The show by Pino Campagna and Antonio Stornaiolo, accompanied by the aerial dance performance by the Eleina D Company and the lighting of the large Christmas tree in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, will inaugurate the Christmas events calendar scheduled in Monopoli on Saturday 7th December. The calendar has been organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Monopoli and the communication agency Amaranto.
“Monopoli Destinazione Natale” is the Christmas project, presented during a press conference, that will bring the city of Monopoli to life from 7th December to 6th January 2025. It invites citizens and visitors to experience a special Palmieri journey through immersive installations, performances, musical events, cultural activities, workshops, and attractions for both adults and children.
Monopoli Destinazione Natale will be a journey through places of the heart and celebration. An immersive, engaging journey of discovery. A major highlight is the installations spread across the heart of the city, to be explored and experienced. Fifteen installations have been created using the technique of anamorphism, which allows viewers to see the world from a different perspective through a three-dimensional optical illusion, offering an immersive experience. These works redefine how the audience interacts with space, opening the door to a new dialogue between art and the viewer. The installation becomes an experience, and the observer becomes an integral part of it.
Five installations will highlight Monopoli as a tourist destination. The other ten, distributed throughout the historic centre, will depict engaging images of Christmas scenarios and settings. In line with the theme of travel, which guides the project “Monopoli Destinazione Natale,” these ten installations will form a trail. This trail represents the imaginary journey taken by Santa Claus through the city of Monopoli. By following his footsteps, adults and children can retrace Santa’s path, discover festive locations, and immerse themselves in the magic. Each installation features a QR code, Scanning it will reveal a word or a sequence of words forming a sentence for each location. The ‘magic phrase’ to be communicated to Father Christmas.
Santa Claus will welcome young and old visitors to his home set up in Palazzo Palmieri, from 7th December to 6th January, every Friday through to Sunday. Along with Santa Claus and his companions, there will be many events to enjoy the festive season in Monopoli. The celebrations kick off on Saturday 7th December. From 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the doors of Palazzo Palmieri will open, where Santa Claus will reside during the holidays. At 7:30 PM in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, beloved mascots will entertain the children, while awaiting the special guests who will officially start the Christmas festivities in Monopoli. It will be an evening filled with fun, art, and magic, featuring Antonio Stornaiolo, Pino Campagna and his cabaret, the aerial dance performance by the Eleina D Company, and the lighting of the grand Christmas tree.
Throughout the festive period, various events will take place in the borough, streets, and squares of the historic centre, making Christmas in Monopoli truly special. Among these on Sunday, 15th December in Piazza XX Settembre, Piazza Milite Ignoto, and Piazza Manzoni, there will be a children’s circus with clowns, fire-eaters, and jugglers offering great fun. On Saturday 21st December, there will be a superhero show and a concert by the Serena Grittani Quartet.
Additional events will be held at the “Prospero Rendella” Civic Library and the Carlo V Castle, including exhibitions, special openings of air raid shelters, Christmas carols in churches, and nativity scenes that will bring the city centre and surrounding districts to life. There will also be DJ sets, concerts, tours of the installations, magic shows, bubble performances, and street artists.
The program is constantly being updated on social media and the website www.monopolidestinazionenatale.it.