On the weekends from 22 November to 14 December, Candles at Candelara and the Christams market return to the Marche region.
Nine days of Christmas festivities
The origins of this Christmas event date back to over two decades ago, and every year it puts the spotlight on the ancient medieval village of Candelara, in the hills seven kilometres from Pesaro on the coast of the Marche region. With nine days of Christmas markets, shows, guided tours, and fun for young and old in an evocative atmosphere, thousands of candles will light up the village streets.
Candlelit processions, food stalls and handcrafts
Artificial lighting will be switched off every day from 17:30 to 18:30 and will last 15 minutes per interval allowing the candles to accompany the townspeople through the events along the entire festival circuit in total safety. The Advent Tower will be placed at the entrance to the festival, while the walls of the Medieval town will be decorated with the four Advent themes: prophets, shepherds, angels and Bethlehem. Visitors will be welcomed by food stalls and the market with some seventy wooden huts selling handcrafts, gifts and candles of all shapes and scents.
A tourist train, candlelit dinners and guided visits
There is a lot of entertainment on the programme, from stilt-walkers, travelling musicians, jugglers and choirs to elves who will accompany the public. Local artisans demonstrate the crafting of beeswax candles using medieval techniques, while installations of candle-lit wrought-iron sculptures create nativity scenes along the village streets. The Trenino delle Candele tourist train does guided tours and there are optional guided visits to the 18th-century Villa Berloni (where you can have lunch, or dinner by candlelight), the Gothic church Pieve di Santo Stefano, and the Loom and Embroidery Museum. Candles at Candelara will take place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November; Saturday 29 November and Sunday 30 November; Saturday 6, Sunday 7 and Monday 8 December. The last scheduled weekend is Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December. Admission: €3 until 1 p.m., €6 after 1 p.m., free for children under 10.
