Christmas You Don’t Expect is Italy’s largest network of Christmas festivities: traditional markets, live nativity scenes, fairytale landscapes, snowfalls and entertainment, streets lined with colorful lights and thousands of candles for a truly breathtaking spectacle. Christmas You Don’t Expect is an initiative organized by the Pro Loco associations of Pesaro and Urbino, supported by the Marche Region and the Province of Pesaro and Urbino.
Christmas You Don’t Expect in Marche
From November 26th to Epiphany, the unmissable widespread event returns, welcoming thousands of visitors on a magical journey through more than twenty historic villages in the province of Pesaro and Urbino: Candelara, Fano, Fossombrone, Frontone, Mombaroccio, Mondolfo, Pergola, Urbania, Urbino, Canavaccio, Cagli and Paravento, Fermignano, Montefelcino, Barchi, Isola del Piano, Gradara, San Costanzo, San Lorenzo in Campo, Montecchio di Vallefoglia, Montemaggiore al Metauro, Sant’Ippolito.
Christmas in Candelara
“Christmas You Don’t Expect” lights up the magic with ‘Candele a Candelara’, Italy’s only festival dedicated to wax candle flames. Thousands of candles guide visitors along this ancient village in a flurry of different events: Christmas markets, nativity scenes, festive trains, street artists, and traditional food, all made even more evocative by scheduled blackouts. Twice a day, the village is illuminated only by candlelight.
Christmas in Mombaroccio
‘Christmas in Mombaroccio’ enchants with its magical seasonal atmosphere, featuring a market in classic wooden huts with the finest Christmas crafts, local delicacies, winter settings, and Santa’s house open for kids’ creative workshops. There’s also the unique spectacle of artificial snow, falling at dusk to music and adding extra wonder to one of Italy’s most beautiful markets.
Christmas in Urbino
In Urbino, “Le Vie dei Presepi” presents artistic nativities from around the world—tiny or massive, crafted from diverse materials—including the oldest nativity scene in the world, made by Federico Brandani in 1550 and housed in the Oratory of San Giuseppe. These true works of art are displayed in the most iconic spaces of the ducal city, palaces, and alleys in the historic center, surrounded by markets, concerts, exhibitions, and guided tours.
Christmas in Fano
‘Il Natale più’ in Fano is a Christmas village with its classic markets and a full calendar of events and performances that wrap up on January 6th with the Befana markets.
Christmas in Fossombrone
‘Magico Natale’ in Fossombrone surprises with endless lights as ancient Forum Semproni is transformed into a woodland scene where Santa’s post office and Granny Elf are at home. 250 magical lanterns and 60,000 twinkling lights, along with real trees and shrubs, create a fairy-tale wood. The event features the Snow & Snow show—artificial snowfall paired with light installations, music, sweet treats, roasted chestnuts, and mulled wine.
Christmas in Pergola
Lots of sweetness in Pergola, city of the Gilded Bronzes, with ‘Cioccovisciola – Warmth Among the Firs’, the chocolate and sour cherry festival set in a magical fir forest decorated with recycled wool donations from locals. Gourmet stands, artisan crafts, workshops, and guided tours bring to life one of Italy’s most beautiful villages.
Christmas in Frontone
In Frontone, at the foot of Monte Catria, the striking medieval castle glows in magical lights and festive vibes. All children have a chance to meet and hug Santa Claus and hand him their letters. At the Santa’s Castle—his real-life residence—you can embark on an incredible discovery tour through castle rooms, brimming with treats, artisan crafts, music, games, events, and shows.
Christmas in Mondolfo
And there are plenty more sparkling initiatives, such as the historic soapbox race in Mondolfo for ‘The Most Beautiful Christmas in the Most Beautiful Village’, with its iconic Christmas tree, hand-crafted during the heart of the pandemic from 73,000 meters of yarn and 2,800 embroidered squares by the village’s skilled women.
Christmas in Urbania
As always, the grand finale of the Christmas You Don’t Expect calendar is from January 4th to 6th, 2023, with the National Befana Festival in Urbania. A thousand hand-sewn stockings color the village alleys, aided by 300 Befana helpers ready to meet children at her house, a record-breaking stocking over 50 meters long, with music, songs, and the acrobatic and pyrotechnic flight of the Befana on her broom.
