The magical Christmas of Mineo is characterized by the crib, which has always been an element that exerts its charm on both adults and children. Every year in December the Christmas in the Alleys event is held which attracts thousands of visitors. Here's what makes Christmas magical in the alleys of Mineo and how to take part in the event.
Christmas in the Alleys of Mineo is a beautiful event that every year attracts an increasingly larger audience who are eager to immerse themselves in this historical atmosphere that is truly out of the ordinary. The whole event is centered on the organization of a living crib which, in itself, is already an event that contains charm and magic.
The peculiarity of the one in Mineo, however, is not only in the fact that it really involves the whole city but above all in its setting, which does not recall the ancient Palestine but it is rather nineteenth-century in style. Visitors who arrive in Mineo to attend Christmas in the Alleys are therefore catapulted about three centuries back in time and find themselves living in a universe in which they live, work and move costumed characters who behave exactly as if they lived in that time, also helped by the fact that the event involves the entire historic center which is made up of buildings with an exquisitely medieval flavour.
The story of Christmas in the alleys of Mineo
Over time, the event has gradually expanded and become richer new items, to make this transposition into the past increasingly credible. Initially the event was born as an exhibition of handcrafted nativity scenes made by local artists, then we wanted to try something even more realistic such as a living nativity scene.
In recent years, in homage to one of the most illustrious citizens of Mineo, Luigi Capuana, the setting up of the living nativity scene was designed with anineteenth-century setting with clear references to Verismo of which the author himself was one of the greatest exponents.
Where Christmas is held in the alleys of Mineo
One of the most particular elements of Christmas in the Alleys of Mineo is the fact that it involves the entire town. Ideally the path that visitors must follow starts from Piazza Buglio and then unravels in all the streets of the historic center where the shops of the time are set up such as that of shoemaker, the bakeries, the wool carder and roasted chestnut seller.
Some houses are also open to spectators, as are the stables that house the animals typical animals of the time. Cellars, shops, oil mills and the arches of the main squares are a succession of nineteenth-century environments and costumed characters that invite those who are the actual spectators of the theatrical performance to interact with them as if they were in that specific era. The route ends with the arrival at cave which houses the Nativity.
When Christmas is held in the alleys of Mineo
The event of the magical Christmas in the alleys of Mineo is obviously held every year during the Christmas period. The dates vary but it is usually preferred to make them coincide with the red calendar holidays, so as to allow the numerous characters to better immerse themselves in the part. This is why the 26th December and then continue the following weekend and then find its culmination on 5th and 6st January.
What can you do during Christmas in the alleys of Mineo
The event is full of events that are designed to involve a very varied audience. Obviously the heart of the event is represented by the setting up of the living nativity scene, until the arrival of the Three Kings on the Epiphany, but there is much more that can be done.
In fact, during the days dedicated to the event, there are also on display handcrafted cribs, made not only by local artists but also by artisans from every corner of the world. Furthermore there are exhibitions and events that aim to retrace the thousand-year history of Mineo and the salient features of its growth. Finally, every year temporary exhibitions of private collectors, like the one dedicated to nineteenth-century carriages which was very successful in the past.
How to get to Mineo
Getting to Mineo is really very simple, especially if you decide to travel by car and come from Catania. In fact, it is sufficient to take the SS. 417 towards Caltagirone which leads directly to Mineo.
For those coming from Ragusa, the road to take is the SS. 514 up to Vizzini and then join the SS. 124 which leads directly to Mineo.
A service of local buses It also connects Catania to Mineo with departures every day from 6am to 21pm.
Finally, the route by train is less easy as the town does not have its own currently functioning railway station and the closest ones are the Grammichele or Vizzini stations from which you must then continue by bus.
