Salerno Illuminations: Luci d’Artista

Luci d’Artista Salerno: the enchantment of the 2024/2025 illuminations

The city of Salerno is preparing for another unforgettable edition of Luci d’Artista, an event that transforms streets and squares into a marvelous spectacle of lights and colors. As Christmas approaches, the southern Italy capital of illuminations enriches itself with new artistic installations that promise to enchant residents and visitors alike. In this article, we will explore the news for Luci d’Artista 2024/2025, official dates, themes of the illuminations, and much more, to offer you a complete guide to this magical event.

Official dates of Luci d’Artista 2024 The Luci d’Artista event will take place from November 29, 2024 to January 19, 2025. Every day, starting from 5:00 PM, Salerno’s center will light up with spectacular luminous installations. The main streets, the communal villa, and historic squares will become the stage for a unique Christmas atmosphere, attracting tourists from all over Italy and beyond.

• Start: November 29, 2024
• End: January 19, 2025
• Time: daily from 5:00 PM

The official theme of the 19th edition

Every year, Luci d’Artista presents a central theme guiding the creation of the illuminations. For the 19th edition, the theme will focus on various aspects of nature and fantasy. Among the most awaited novelties, the re-presentation of the animal zoo at the communal villa stands out, enriched by new creatures that will bring to life a world of wonders.

Themes of the illuminations

• Animal zoo: new installations representing different animal species.
• Space and cinema: in Piazza Flavio Gioia, the illuminations will be inspired by space themes, with decorations shaped like spaceships and rockets.
• Marine world: in Piazza Largo Campo, the theme will be dedicated to jellyfish, with installations reproducing the fascinating underwater world.

The majestic Christmas tree

An iconic element of Luci d’Artista is the large Christmas tree towering in Piazza Portanova. For the 2024/2025 edition, the municipality of Salerno invested 210 thousand euros for a 20-meter tree, decorated with 72,000 white LED lights. This tree is not only a symbol of celebration but also the perfect place for unforgettable photos.

Tree features

• Height: 20 meters
• Branches: 800
• LED lights: 72,000 flashing effect

Side events during Luci d’Artista

Besides the illuminations, Salerno will offer a series of side events enriching visitors’ experience. Concerts, Christmas markets, and activities for children will transform the city into a true Christmas village.

Concerts and shows

• New Year’s concerts: a big concert will be held in Piazza della Libertà, featuring renowned artists. This year, the star selected is Giorgia, promising an unforgettable show.

Christmas markets

Christmas markets will be present in different squares, offering artisan products, sweets, and local specialties. The festive atmosphere will be enhanced by live music and activities for the little ones.

How to reach Salerno

Salerno is easily reachable thanks to a well-developed transport network. Whether you arrive by car, train, or bus, the city is well connected with other Italian locations.

Transportation options

• By car: Salerno is connected by the A3 motorway.
• By train: Salerno railway station offers frequent connections with Naples and other cities with high-speed trains.
• By bus: several bus lines connect Salerno with main cities of southern Italy.
• By plane: Salerno now has an airport (Salerno Costa d’Amalfi) in nearby Pontecagnano. Flights operate daily from various parts of Italy and the world.

Where to stay during Luci d’Artista

If you plan to visit Salerno during the event, it is important to book accommodation in advance. The city offers a wide range of options, from luxury hotels to budget hostels.

Booking tips

• Hotels in the center: choose a hotel downtown to be close to the illuminations and events.
• Apartments: consider renting an apartment for a longer and more comfortable stay.
• Hostels: if you are looking for an economical option, hostels can be an ideal choice.

What to see in Salerno beyond the illuminations

Salerno is not just about illuminations; the city also offers rich history and culture to explore. During your visit, don’t miss the chance to visit some of its most iconic sites.

Must-see attractions

• History of Medicine Museum: a journey through medical history in a fascinating building.
• San Pietro a Corte Monumental Complex: an example of Lombard architecture that tells the city’s story.
• Fratte Archaeological Area: discover an Etruscan-Samnite necropolis with artifacts from the pre-Roman era.

Tips for an unforgettable experience

To best enjoy Luci d’Artista, here are some useful tips:

• Visit at different times: the illuminations offer a unique look both by day and night.
• Join the events: check the event program to not miss concerts and shows.
• Take photos: don’t forget your camera to capture special moments.

Previous editions of Luci d’Artista in Salerno

The first edition of Luci di Salerno dates back to winter 2006. Since then, the Salerno Illuminations have grown year by year to become a fixed appointment for the curious and the celebrants. For a few years now on the seafront, during the Luci edition, Salerno has had the Ferris Wheel, another great attraction for the seaside city. At Christmas and New Year’s, Salerno, thanks to the Illuminations, records a full house.

Luci d’Artista Salerno: 2019 – 2020

Luci d’Artista 2019 Theme: Flowers, snow, and stars
Dates: from November 15, 2019 / January 19, 2020
Luci d’Artista hours: every day from 5:00 PM until 2:00 AM.
Cost of Luci d’Artista: admission is completely free.

Flowers, snow, stars. Until January 19, Salerno lights up its Luci d’Artista. It’s a spectacular open-air exhibition of luminous artworks installed in the parks, streets, and squares of the city of the Salerno Medical School. A path of lights, colors, and atmospheres attracting millions of visitors from all over Italy and the world.

Luci d’Artista Salerno, what to see

There are many evocative moments created by Luci d’Artista Salerno in a luminous path that stretches over 40 kilometers of cables with about five million low-energy LED bulbs. The authors’ imagination turns into real masterpieces that emerge sparkling and engaging from the darkness. The walk discovering Luci d’Artista Salerno offers splendid emotions at every step to share with children, family, and friends.

Luci d’Artista: what not to miss

• The Villa Comunale on Via Roma, hosts The Zoo I Wish For. Among the avenues and flowerbeds, animals of every species appear that seem almost able to come to life at any moment. It is the children’s kingdom who move from one attraction to another, not wanting to miss any animal in this enchanted forest. An Ark of Noah that also contains a moral: the future of the world passes through peaceful coexistence between man and every living creature, starting with a gigantic 8-meter tall luminous elephant.
• The Coast of Amalfi Traditions are the inspiring theme created in Piazza S. Agostino between the city seafront and the Millennium Cathedral. Salerno, since its origin, has an inseparable bond with the sea for fishing, trade, human and international relations. The sea for Salerno is the past, but at the same time also the future. Vital energy that bursts through the intense colors of the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO world heritage. Above all, the bright yellow of the sfusato lemons dominates, whose scent can almost be imagined with a pinch of fantasy.
• The magnificent Piazza Flavio Gioia, which in the past hosted a lively fish market, has become a Golden Forest. A majestic tree dominates the scene, its branches extending throughout the square creating a true luminous sky.
• Luci d’Artista Salerno has the magical power to even change the climatic geography. Here appear colonies of playful penguins from Antarctica that have settled on the seafront cliff and the beach of Santa Teresa next to Moonlight, the work by Luca Pannoli on the beach most loved by Salernitans and visitors.
• Snow Trees on Corso Garibaldi and Waterfall lights on Corso Vittorio Emanuele light up the main city streets leaving everyone gazing upwards.
• Marine waves and tropical flowers, constellations and planets, jugglers and flying bears, light sculptures, and reindeers dot streets and squares throughout Salerno in a true explosion of colors and shifting atmospheres.
• Enrica Borghi created a work entirely made of recovered plastic bottle bottoms. Her Mosaic, installed among the alleys of the Historic Center, is a strong call to safeguard planet Earth devastated by climate change, natural resource exploitation, and indiscriminate plastic use.
• The Things of the World by Ugo Nespolo await visitors along Via Trento and Via Posidonia, the main axis connecting the eastern area with the city center. In Via Santa Margherita and Via Amendola here is Cyrcus by Luca Pannoli.
• Eduardo Giannattasio created light artworks inspired by the gospel account: The Nativity on the Church of San Pietro in Camerellis; the Annunciation on the Church of the Sacred Heart.
• The myth of Nello Ferrigno embellishes Via Pietro del Pezzo.
• Christmas light installations starting with the giant Christmas tree in Piazza Portanova, the angelic parades around the Cathedral of the Patron Saint Matteo, and the sparkling installations.

Luci d’Artista Salerno invite being together, to live in the streets and among people overcoming anxieties and fears of troubled times. It is a popular event where beauty meets the joy of having fun and discovering oneself. With a strong ecological core both in the choice of themes and in the use of eco-sustainable and/or recycled materials and low-energy lighting.

Luci d’Artista: Van Gogh, street food, and craftsmanship

Visiting Luci d’Artista Salerno is also a great opportunity to discover the interesting historical, cultural, commercial, and enogastronomic attractions of Salerno.

• The Addolorata Monumental Complex hosts the beautiful immersive exhibition dedicated to Van Gogh that allows appreciating his visionary genius.
• The Minerva Garden, botanical garden of the Salerno Medical School, is increasingly visited. Ancient medicinal and healing essences are still cultivated there and can be bought or tasted at a cozy refreshment point. At sunset, Lumina Minervae takes place.
• The Giuseppe Verdi Municipal Theater, directed by Daniel Oren, stages La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, the Christmas Concert of the White Voices, the double Concert of January 1, Music under the Tree in Piazza Portanova where Christmas choirs, marching bands, jazz and pop orchestras will also perform.
• On New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Eve Big Concert in Piazza Amendola celebrates together the start of the new year with great Italian music stars.
• The huge Ferris wheel in Piazza della Concordia exceeds sixty meters in height, offering breathtaking views of the city and the Gulf of Salerno.
• Jazz concerts, fairy tales for youngsters, sand nativity scenes, and many other events for all tastes and ages.
• Artisan shops, trendy boutiques, restaurants and bars, street food stalls, and Christmas markets offer shopping, relaxation, and tastings for all tastes and budgets. Thanks also to a special card granting discounts on purchases, exhibitions, and events.

Salerno Illuminations: Luci d’Artista 2018 – 2019

The 2018-2019 edition of Luci d’Artista will last over two months. The lighting is scheduled for Friday, November 9, while the switch-off will be on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

Another spectacular edition for Luci d’Artista in Salerno, the now historic appointment with the wonderful Christmas illuminations, with some novelties. Between November and January, the Luci d’Artista in Salerno will light up again: the novelties are more than one, all clearly visible from the first lighting. Also this year, the city of Salerno hosts an event that is both an artistic manifestation and a great attraction: about 27 kilometers of roads are covered by joyful illuminations, from the Villa Comunale to streets leading to or diving into the seaside area of the city.

The suspensions arranged on Corso Vittorio Emanuele are also impactful, somewhat similar to previous editions but far from predictable. From this area up to the Villa, other figures display colors and cheerfulness, in a succession of artistic creations without equal.

The luminous works of “Luci d’Artista” in Salerno will remain lit for the entire Christmas period, until mid-January. Many arrivals are expected in the city from these days onward: a weekend in Salerno allows experiencing the Christmas magic by being positively enchanted by these wonderful light tales. The next good opportunity could be the Immaculate Conception long weekend, but in any case, Salerno is easily accessible any time by plane, flying to Naples airport (or to Salerno Pontecagnano if flights are available), or by high-speed train Frecciarossa or Italo, since Salerno is the terminus for both railway companies.

Luci d’Artista Card

Luci d’Artista Card offers discounts and services to tourists, visitors, and citizens, to enjoy the beauties of the Luci d’Artista event and the city along with Campania’s cultural attractions. It costs 5 euros and can be purchased at the Salerno Mobility offices in Piazza Amedeo and the Parking in Piazza della Concordia. It is valid for up to two people from November 9, 2018, to October 31, 2019 and activates upon receipt. An app (iOS and Android) for the Luci d’Artista Card is available.

What you can do with Luci d’Artista Card

You can receive discounts and benefits for:

• Museums and cultural attractions
• Commercial, craft, restaurant and accommodation activities
• Parking
• Discounts on events and experiences

In particular:

• 15% discount on purchase of goods/services for those who show and register the card at participating points of sale
• 20% discount on parking fees managed by Salerno Mobility in the automated perimeter areas of Foce Irno – Mazzini – Concordia – Sottopiazza della Concordia.
• Dedicated tickets to museums/events/attractions for CARD holders Salerno Luci d’Artista (updated list and ticket prices available online).

Participating businesses and structures will display a sticker identifying the promotion.

Holders of the SALERNO LUCI D’ARTISTA CARD, to enjoy discounts at participating points and structures, must show and allow the card to be scanned, whether paper or virtual (on smartphone), at the time of purchase for validation (the APP will indicate if the CARD was activated during the previous edition).

What to do in case of loss or theft of Luci D’Artista Card

In case of loss, theft, or damage, the holder must repurchase the card, communicating the number of the lost or stolen card by email to lucicard@comune.salerno.it, if not previously dematerialized by registering online or in the app (through the specific function).

Salerno Illuminations: from November 4, 2017, to January 22, 2018

Inauguration on November 4, 2017, of Luci d’Artista, the spectacular open-air exhibition of luminous artworks in the streets and squares of Salerno.

Previous editions of the Illuminations: Salerno Luci d’Artista

Salerno Illuminations: Luci d’Artista 2016

To make the visit to the installations even more exciting, Luci d’Artista identifies 4 main themes that conceptually gather the different works: MYTH, DREAM, TIME, and CHRISTMAS. (source: Municipality of Salerno)

Salerno Illuminations: Luci d’Artista 2015

The theme of this edition is “Fairy tales, Aurora and the Enchanted Garden“. The protagonists are “The Forest”, Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland.

Salerno Illuminations: Luci d’Artista 2014

The theme for the 2014-2015 edition is the Northern Lights and Fairy Tales. Fairy tale characters, like Peter Pan and Cinderella, take the form of huge luminous statues that will be placed in the two central squares of the city. Meanwhile, the Villa Comunale, to the delight of all children, will be transformed into a real enchanted garden where many Disney characters can be admired.