For all incurable travelers always ready to take advantage of every weekend and holiday bridge for a nice trip, the Epiphany is the last great opportunity to live a last experience with a “Christmas” atmosphere to discover cities and small villages with great traditions .
Even more so if you have children in tow, January 6 can be a last chance for fun and entertainment before returning to everyday life. For this reason we have decided to offer you some Italian destinations in which to spend the epiphany .
Travel advice post COVID19: Some of the events mentioned in the article may be canceled or scaled down due to the pandemic. We therefore recommend that you inquire through the official channels before proceeding with the travel organization. If you decide to leave, make sure you comply with safety measures and follow government guidelines.
Destination Offer (3 days / 2 nights) Rome, Lazio from € 112.00 per person – find out more
Urbania, Marche from € 92.00 per person – find out more
Turin, Piedmont from € 122.00 per person – find out more more
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna from € 110.00 per person – find out more
Milan, Lombardy from € 123.00 per person – find out more
Florence, Tuscany from € 130.00 per person – find out more
Venice, Veneto from € 148.00 per person – find out more
1 – Rome
Despite the celebrations to a lesser extent, the Roman proposal for the day of the epiphany is in any case highly respectable, including living nativity scenes, theaters, exhibitions and events.
Two events are scheduled at the Auditorium Parco della Musica: the traditional Opera dei Pupi by Mimmo Cuticchio and the concert of the Italian Popular Orchestra , which offers a repertoire that celebrates local folklore.
Also not to be missed are the artistic nativity scenes, which you can admire at the International Exposition under Bernini’s Colonnade in St. Peter’s Square, or in the hamlet of Settebagni, at the Temple Visitor Center in Rome.
Finally, there is no shortage of theatrical performances, offered in various temples of the Capitoline culture, such as the Tor Bella Monaca Theater, the Sistina Theater and the Trastevere Theater.
SEE ALSO : What to see absolutely in Rome
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 56.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: fast access VIP Priority Entrance to the Colosseum
2 – Urbania
Photo of Belmetauro. There is no doubt that the Italian Befana is a resident of Urbania , a village in the province of Pesaro, in the Marche region. Here, from 4 to 6 January, the Befana becomes a national holiday . The town is all in turmoil: markets, fairs and exhibitions enliven this town for three days. You can visit the Casa della Befana and attend various cabaret and juggling shows, while visiting the most fascinating ravines of the city, in a rich intertwining of tradition and folklore.
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 46.00 per night – Discover the offers
3 – Turin
For the city that never sleeps, the Befana weekend is an excellent opportunity to have fun. Day 6, at the Torino Outlet Village , the Befana riding her broom will meet the children and distribute them socks full of delicious candies.
At the Palavela On Ice , you can skate with the whole family in a safe and fun environment.
On the weekend of January 8 and 9, you can instead visit the Turin Planetarium on the occasion of the exhibition “Lo Spazio ai Bambini”, where you can discover the wonders of the Universe and build your own space rocket.
But that’s not all, throughout the Epiphany bridge you can visit various exhibitions and museums open at Venaria Reale, the GAM, Palazzo Barolo and various other places of culture.
SEE ALSO : What to see absolutely in Turin
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 61.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Tour of the occult Turin between dark arts and black magic Turin underground tour
4 – Bologna
The children of Bologna, and their parents, can rest assured, the Befana in animera different places in the city and in the surrounding area. For example , you can meet her at the Circolo ARCI Benassi , where she distributes sweets and books. Alternatively, you can enter the extraordinary laboratory of the Befana at the Industrial Heritage Museum, and try your hand at foamy chemical experiments. Finally, you may decide to enjoy a fantastic Christmas show at the Duse Theater.
Events aside, the city is perfect for a weekend stay, discovering its beauties!
SEE ALSO : What to see in Bologna
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 55.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Private tour with a local Cooking Class guide in a traditional Bolognese house
5 – Milan
On January 6, this year too Milan will not remain idle. Every year the Befana arrives from the canals to distribute sweets to children.
In various places in the city, events, exhibitions and cultural visits are organized .
Some examples
At the Castello Sforzesco various activities for children will be offered, including “The great witch hunt”, a fantastic treasure hunt in the castle halls. At the Leonardo3 Museum, you can admire an exhibition on flight dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. Finally, at the Duomo Museum, you can enjoy “La via della Stella”, a guided tour for children and families.
SEE ALSO : What to see absolutely in Milan
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 63.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: Historical city tour + priority entrance to the Last Supper Ticket Duomo + Terraces
6 – Florence
On the occasion of the Befana weekend, the most famous event in Florence is the traditional Cavalcade of the Magi , a procession that sees the Magi parading between Piazza de Pitti and Piazza del Duomo accompanied by the Uffizi Flagi.
Unfortunately, in the years of Covid this wonderful tradition was postponed, but in the city there are still many options to spend a memorable day.
All major museums are open to the public and offer special exhibitions and activities, including the Uffizi at Palazzo Pitti,.
Furthermore, January 6th is also the last chance to admire the nativity scene set up in the churchyard of the Florence Cathedral , with wonderful life-size terracotta statues.
SEE ALSO: What to see absolutely in Florence
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 65.00 per night – Discover offers
- Card, ticket and recommended tour: Walking tour in the center of Florence Priority entrance to the Uffizi Gallery Priority entrance to the Duomo
7 – Venice Venice
too has its own tradition for the Epiphany. A fantastic regatta has been held here in the past few years, with a rowing challenge on the Grand Canal between Befane and Santa Claus .
Unfortunately this year the event has been postponed and in general the celebrations have been greatly reduced due to Covid.
However, the Befana bridge is certainly a perfect opportunity to visit the floating city and appreciate its romantic appeal, considering that all the main museums and places of interest will remain open!
SEE ALSO : What to see absolutely in Venice
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 69.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Card, ticket and recommended tour: Venice Gondola Tour Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Tour Boat excursion to Murano, Burano and Torcello Casanova Venice tour
NOT CONFIRMED – The Night of the “Cucibocca” in Montescaglioso
Photo by Noodles83. Basilicata is one of the richest regions in folklore, and on this occasion it offers the best of itself, recalling the tradition of the “Cucibocca”. These are characters who, according to an ancient tradition , walked around the city with chains tied to their feet, begging for food from door to door. In reality, it was all a story told to the children to get them to go to bed early and allow the “witches” to fill their socks with sweets. Or coal …
Even today this folkloric re-enactment is re-proposed in the streets of the village of Montescaglioso in the province of Matera.
Unfortunately, the event was postponed due to a pandemic.
: Matera: what to see, where to eat and what to do in the evening
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 51.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: 2-hour tour of the Sassi di Matera
NOT CONFIRMED – Pergine Valsugana (Trento): the Enchanted Valley
Photo by Syrio. A train of the Christmas holidays, in Pergine Valsugana, a charming Trentino village, for the whole period from Christmas to the Befana the valley is transformed into the scenario of “Perzenland and the Enchanted Valley”, a fantasy themed village inhabited by fairies, gnomes, elves and goblins ! You know a better way to make your children smile
. Add to this the inevitable stalls of sweets, handicrafts and local specialties .
Unfortunately, the event was postponed due to a pandemic.
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 47.00 per night – Discover the offers
NOT CONFIRMED – Faenza (Ravenna): the Notte de ‘Biso
It is already celebrated on the night of January 5th, on the occasion of the end of the Palio del Niballo . The Niballo, a puppet about 3 meters high, is pulled on a cart in the central square of the town, and here burned at the stake. Symbolically, this represents the liberation from the misfortunes and catastrophes of the past year, and the square is thus illuminated by the fire of the stake to give new “light” to the year that has just arrived. That of the fires is a rather common rite in the center north, but what differentiates this anniversary in Faenza, is the entry on the scene of “Biso”, the typical mulled wine of the area which, we are sure, warms the participants even more than stake!
Unfortunately, the event was postponed due to a pandemic.
- Where to sleep: hotels and b & b from € 45.00 per night – Discover the offers
- Recommended cards, tickets and tours: half day guided tour of Ravenna
