From 11th November to 17th December 2023 (only the weekends)

A new, great edition awaits The Magical Christmas Village, one of the longest-running, loved and popular Christmas events in Italy and the only Italian in the Top Ten of the best Christmas markets in Europe for the prestigious international association for tourism promotion European Best Destinations. 

"Like every year we want to create more than a simple event, we want to give the magic of Chrismas to all those who are passionate about the most beautiful moment of the year like we are", explains Pier Paolo Guelfo, creator and event organizer. "We have decided to tell everyone the great story of Christmas, chapter after chapter, in a countdown of things that will happen while waiting for the strike of December 25th, and let's start with a gift: a special offer for those who book tickets for the attractions of the Magical Christmas Village 2022". 

Repeating the success of last year's formula, also for its sixteenth edition the Magical Christmas Village will have a program spread across different locations, to spread the magic of Christmas throughout the Piedmont area by animating some of the symbolic places included in the Unesco World Heritage Site list, such as the hills of Langhe Roero and Monferrato or the Royal Castle of Govone, part of the circuit of the Savoy residences.

From 12 November to 19 December, for all weekends the appointments of the Magical Christmas Village 2022 will animate the city of Asti, the splendid village of Govone with its castle perched on a hill and the picturesque center of San Damiano.

On November 12th we will start with Asti, while Govone will open its doors the following weekend, starting from November 19th. Then San Damiano d'Asti and the other Piedmontese places participating in the program will join.

Early Booking Promotion

Throughout the month of October there will be a promotion on the tickets of the Santa Claus House: entrance tickets from 17.00 to 18.45 - the "most magical" moment of Govone, at nightfall and at the switching on of the Christmas lights - they will cost 6 euros for everyone (adults and children) instead of 10 euros.

The theme of the Magical Christmas Village 2022: the Christmas tree

In this sixteenth year, the Magical Christmas Country 2022 has chosen a particularly significant theme, with the rediscovery of one of the symbols of Christmas par excellence: the Christmas tree.

Not only the tree intended as a symbol of joy and happiness, but also as a natural element of primary importance for the ecosystem and the protection of the territory.

The figure of the tree will in fact be recurring in the program and in the fittings. First of all in the House of Santa Claus, with the traditional show in the castle of Govone: a self-produced live musical that will take place in different rooms, ending with the meeting with Santa Claus. A company of artists, led by director Vincenzo Santagata, repeats the show 32 times a day, for a total of 448 performances during the entire duration of the event.  And this year's show - "the Big Tree of the Burzee Forest" - will have the Christmas tree as its protagonist.

Then, again in Govone, there will be the “Natale a Casa Savoia” exhibition, set up in the Royal Castle, in which an important part will concern the Christmas tree, a tradition brought to Italy from the Nordic countries by the Savoy family. Furthermore, at the entrance of Govone, the traditional tree will be decorated.

The Christmas tree will also be a great protagonist in Asti, where two light installations in the shape of tall trees will be set up in Piazza Roma, and there will be some conical Christmas installations in recycled and / or recyclable plastic, illuminated by LEDs and energy-saving lights: some "alternative" Christmas trees that will make it possible to avoid the felling of about sixty real trees.

The Magical Christmas Village in Asti

In Asti also this year what aims to become the largest Christmas market in Europe will be set up. The surface occupied by the Christmas houses will this year be even wider and more diversified, for a total of over 130 workstations of artisans and food and wine producers from all over Italy.

In particular, in Piazza San Secondo, a small square will be set up with a selection of houses of local producers of excellence and the "PalaTartufo - the Jewels of the Territory", a structure dedicated to the white gold of Piedmont, the white truffle.

The opening show of the event, "It's time for magic", hosted at the beautiful Alfieri Theater in Asti, will be held on 12 November at 4.45pm and, again in the same theater, will be staged on 8 December "The magic hour-part two", an Hollywood-style Christmas Gala with some artists from the Zelig tv program and the Sunshine Gospel Choir, a gospel choir made up of over forty elements that in 2020 successfully participated in Italia's Got Talent.

These are the opening dates of the Magical Christmas Village in Asti:

12-13 NOVEMBER / 19-20 NOVEMBER / 26-27 NOVEMBER /  1-2-3-4 DECEMBER / 8-9-10-11 DECEMBER / 15-16-17-18 DECEMBER

The Magical Christmas Village in Govone

The magic of Christmas opens in Govone a week later, on November 19, with the concert of the Susnhine Ghospel Choir in front of the entrance of the Royal Castle of Govone at 5 pm. At the end of the concert, the 3D lights installed in the whole area of the castle (including a 17-meter comet) and with the official start to the Christmas magic.

The House of Santa Claus, set up as every year inside the Royal Castle, will be even more spectacular than in previous years, after a complete renovation of the atrium of the Castle. Inside, in a path spread over several consecutive environments, the self-produced musical dedicated to the "Big Tree of the Burzee Forest" will be staged. Also in the castle will be set up the exhibition "Christmas at the House of Savoy", which traces the historical traditions linked to the real Christmas, and the introduction of the symbol of the Christmas tree, "borrowed" from Northern Europe. The 2022 tour itinerary will be enriched for the Christmas holidays by arrangements, objects on display, colors and lights that will lead visitors to discover what were the traditions of the noble family during the holidays.

At the same time, an exhibition dedicated to the Nativity scene and the traditions of Christmas will be set up which, by integrating and enriching the visit with curiosities and anecdotes, will bring to life all the suggestion of Christmas at the Savoy court. Finally, Govone will also be the theater of the "School of the Elves", a game path lasting about half an hour consisting of five stages in which children will participate in fun games and activities to receive the diploma of "Professional Elves".

These are the opening dates of the Magical Christmas Village in Govone:

19-20 NOVEMBER / 26-27 NOVEMBER / 3-4 DECEMBER / 8-9-10-11 DECEMBER / 17-18 DECEMBER 

The Magical Christmas Village in San Damiano d'Asti 

Also this year the program of the Magical Christmas Village is enriched by the participation of the enchanting living nativity scene set up in the picturesque historic center  of San Damiano D'Asti, with almost one hundred volunteer figures who will bring the most classic figures of the crib on stage every day: the bagpiper, the Magi, the Roman guards, the washerwomen, the carpenters, the shoemakers, the carvers, the bakers, the artisans, the merchants, the blacksmiths and of course the Nativity scene, all included in the inevitable demonstrations such as the minting of coins, the intertwining of vases , and animal husbandry.

The Magical Christmas Village: informations

 www.magicopaesedinatale.com

Every day in the scenographic Savoy royal castle of Govone, on the top of the village, takes place the amazing musical show of Santa Claus, an original performance that changes every year. Hundreds of live actors perform the musical every quarter of hour for the visitors, and at the end of every performance the public can meet the real Santa Claus. 

One hundred of artisans selected all over Italy sell their items in the beautiful Christmas market in Govone. Here you can find objects, toys, gift ideas and – obviously – the best tipical Italian food.

Govone is a wonderful town into the hills of Langhe-Roero, the wine region in Piedmont – Unesco World Heritage Site. Here you can see the magic of the street made of stones, of the ancient houses and, above all, of its wonderful Savoy royal castle, that dominates the village from the top of the hill.