Elba presents the program of Christmas events
The billboards of the events for Christmas 2022 and New Year’s Eve 2023 in the municipalities of the island of Elba and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park are once again full of interesting and amusing opportunities for recreation, gastronomic pleasures and cultural enrichment, both for the older that for children. Starting with that of Portoferraio, the main municipal administration, which presented, in collaboration with the Pro loco, associations and committees, the most substantial Christmas program, which also includes the open-air dance party on New Year’s Eve. But also in other municipalities of the island there are markets, parties and other Christmas events.
Ferries to the island of Elba
To reach the island of Elba you need to take a ship or a hydrofoil from Piombino and then disembark in one of the three Elba ports: on the Piombino – Portoferraio route, ferries (on which vehicles can also be embarked) and fast means are very frequent, even in winter; hydrofoils operate mostly on the Piombino – Cavo section; only ferries sail on the Piombino – Rio Marina. At the references of these links there are timetables and prices and duration of the journey, as well as further information, and it is possible to buy tickets online.
Christmas and New Year’s events in Portoferraio
It begins on Friday 2 December at the Foresiana Library – De Laugier Cultural Center with “Stories under the tree”, reading aloud for children (the event is also repeated on day 10 in the library and on 23 in the Sala della Gran Guardia). On Sunday 4 December at the Carpani Gardens you can go shopping, or simply take a look at the Christmas Market set up for the occasion; there are also workshops for children, a rich snack and live music. In Piazza Cavour the large Christmas tree is inaugurated on the day of the Immaculate Conception with entertainment, treasure hunts through the streets of the center and live music. The following day in Forte Falcone a guided tour of the works of art by the Elba artist Italo Bolano was organised, followed by an educational workshop dedicated to children and teenagers with the abstract painting in collaboration with the artist Belinda Biancotti. Saturday 10 the markets are located in Piazza Marinai d’Italia. On Sunday 11th the Markets in Piazza Cavour and a bingo in the Sala della Gran Guardia are scheduled, where on Tuesday 13th the little ones can write a letter to Santa Claus. On Wednesday 14 there is the Christmas creative workshop organized by the Opificio LiberArti: children and teenagers can take part in the guided tour of the Pinacoteca Foresiana and in the Christmas decoration workshop inspired by the works in the collection. Friday 16th there will be a bingo in the Sala della Gran Guardia and, in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a concert with a choir. Saturday 17 at the Monica Cecchini sports hall there is the event “A heart in your hands – Together for Agbalt”. Sunday 18 at the Carpani Gardens Santa Claus arrives accompanied by horses and reindeer, entertainment, sausages, pizza, donuts and cotton candy; in the Cloister of the Town Hall a living nativity scene is staged by the Historiae cultural association and in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary you can attend the concert “Nathan Mitchell & The Voices of Inspiration” as part of the Toscana Gospel Festival 2022. Tuesday 20 in Piazza Cavour there is the Christmas Concert by the musical middle school “G. Pastures”. On Wednesday 21 you can participate in a Christmas workshop in the Sala della Gran Guardia.
Saturday 31 December the long-awaited New Year’s Eve party in Piazza della Repubblica, with music and the usual countdown with midnight fireworks display; after the fireworks we start dancing again. On 4 and 7 January 2023 in the Pinacoteca Foresiana the artistic workshop of teaching and social inclusion is scheduled “The Foresiana is my museum”, while on Friday 6 January 2023 the Befana arrives in Piazza Cavour.
From 1 December 2022 to 8 January 2023 the civic museums carry out guided tours and also extraordinary openings: Forte Falcone and Fortezze Medicee, the Linguella Archaeological Area and the Pinacoteca can be visited every day.
Christmas market in Capoliveri
In Capoliveri, one of the seven municipalities of the island of Elba, the celebrations begin on the day of the Immaculate Conception in Piazza Matteotti, with the lighting of the tree and the lights. Santa collects the children’s requests and everyone can drink hot chocolate. From mid-December until 8 January 2023, the historic center becomes a Christmas village, with markets, an ice rink, open-air events and concerts, theatrical and cinematic performances in the municipal theater and a bike circuit.
There is also the Christmas Market on 8, 18 and 29 December 2022: the event in the square “A heart in your hands” also includes a charity draw; the funds will be donated to AGBALT, an association that assists and offers accommodation for families who have children being treated in Pisa for tumors and leukemia.
Christmas party in Marciana Marina
In Marciana Marina, the smallest town on Elba and in all of Tuscany, the Christmas Party is scheduled for 8 December 2022: Market, games for young and old, modern dance show, Street Band Percussion with Santa Claus, lighting tree, a charity initiative and a food and wine stand where you can taste sausage sandwiches, hot dogs, fried friars (Tuscan donuts), mulled wine and hot chocolate. The citizens will create nativity scenes in the streets of the town, which will have the blessing of the parish priest.
Feast of Santa Barbara in Rio
On the occasion of the Feast of Santa Barbara on 4 December, in the municipality of Rio the celebrations begin in the Sala degli Affreschi of the municipal seat of Rio Marina with honors to miners and elderly seafarers, to continue with the Holy Mass in the parish church. At noon, in Piazza Mazzini, there is a tasting of traditional dishes of the miner and sailor by the Proloco of Rio. Opportunities for meditation and reflection on the life that was conducted in the community in the past follow, with music from the G. Pietri Philharmonic and, finally, the lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza Salvo D’Acquisto.
Christmas carnival, race, walk and Pasta Party in Campo nell’Elba
In Marina di Campo, a hamlet in the municipality of Campo nell’Elba, on 8 December there is the Carnatal, Christmas Carnival, with entertainment for children, a small train, a market, stands with confectionary specialties, letters to Santa Claus together with the elves and traveling songs. On 11 December there is the Running of Santa Lucia, a non-competitive trail race and nature walk for adults and children with a final Pasta Party. Entries will take place on the morning of the event in Piazza Dante Alighieri and the proceeds will be used to support families in need.
Christmas and winter in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park
Visits to the fortresses on the hills (on 3 and 24 December 2022 and 7 January 2023 guided visits to the English Fort which also include the photographic exhibition “Elba by Giorgio Roster. The transformation of the landscape between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the shots of the scientist photographer”; on 10, 18, 26, 31 December and 2, 7, 29 January guided tours of the Fortezza del Volterraio, to be reached, weather permitting, along path 255/A); a workshop for making ecological Christmas garlands of evergreen shrubs (December 10); tasting of beers from the island of Elba at the Forte Inglese (December 17); trekking, mountain biking, visits to the town with the Catacombs, the Science Museum and the Casa dell’Agronomo in Pianosa in winter: the Tuscan Archipelago National Park also offers its calendar of Christmas and winter events, with the compulsory booking formula.
