Christmas in Palermo – A Look Around the Shops

As Christmas approaches, the city of Palermo comes alive with decorations to welcome the festive season. The small streets of the centre are presented at their finest at this time of year. Coloured lights are strung across the streets creating a mini galaxy of stars that light the way to the centre of the celebrations, the enormous Christmas tree that sits pride of place in the city centre.

The Teatro Massimo is without doubt one of the finest sights of the city, even without its dressing of decorations. From here you can head towards Piazza Olivella though Via Bara all’Olivella and Via Maqueda, where the streets are filled with small craft shops offering handcrafted gift ideas that make unique gifts.

Wax dolls, miniature nativity scenes and glass paintings featuring the holy family are just some of the items on display that have been made by local artists. Nativity scene figures are intricately modelled using, salt dough, papier-mâché or wood together with angels and cherubs for the tree. For a really unusual idea you could choose from picture frames and chandeliers gilded by hand, or traditional style lithographic prints depicting sacred images. If the shops windows are not enough to tempt you there are also the historic markets at Vuccirìa, Capo, Ballarò and Borgo.

A 'must see' is one of the largest and oldest workshops in the city – the Cuticchio workshop. Run for centuries by a family of master craftsmen who produce exquisite puppets which also take star roles in a large nativity scene. This family also runs a puppet theatre staging stories based around Christmas.
Finally, enjoy this wonderful city at Christmas by walking down Via Bara and enjoy the view of the Teatro Massimo on one side and the hustle and bustle of busy Christmas shoppers under the sparkling lights on the other side of the street.