The Umbrian capital has officially launched its Christmas celebrations for 2025 with an ambitious project that uniquely blends the enhancement of the historic city center, internationally renowned contemporary art, and strong community participation. The lighting of the traditional decorations and the Luci d’Artista designed by Mimmo Paladino 2025, installed along Corso Vannucci and in Piazza IV Novembre, has transformed the acropolis into a highly evocative setting, combining symbols of Perugian tradition with contemporary artistic language. The Umbrian capital has officially launched its Christmas celebrations for 2025 with an ambitious project that uniquely blends the enhancement of the historic city center, internationally renowned contemporary art, and strong community participation. The lighting of the traditional decorations and the Luci d’Artista designed by Mimmo Paladino 2025, installed along Corso Vannucci and in Piazza IV Novembre, has transformed the acropolis into a highly evocative setting, combining symbols of Perugian tradition with contemporary artistic language.
The predominant use of green lighting reflects a conscious focus on sustainability and on a Christmas identity that is both traditional and experimental. The collaboration with Mimmo Paladino represents a project of significant cultural value and is not an isolated event, but rather the culmination of a broader cultural path developed in synergy with the National Gallery of Umbria (GNU). As highlighted by director Costantino D’Orazio, Paladino’s intervention—culminating in the large illuminated circle in the main square—reaffirms Perugia’s role as a key art city on the national scene. The artwork conveys a message of unity and cohesion, reflecting shared values and acting as a collective gesture of renewal and dialogue. The realization of the lighting installations required complex coordination among the Municipality, the GNU, the Perugia Foundation, the Superintendency, and several public companies, demonstrating a remarkable logistical, technical, and economic effort.
Alongside the lighting of Corso Vannucci, the evening also marked the debut of another spectacular project: the monumental video mapping “Luci della città” by Giuliano Giuman. Dedicated entirely to the history of Perugian chocolate, the installation animates the façades of the Porta Sole district, particularly Palazzo Anzidei. Conceived as an urban “chocolate bar,” the projection covers a potential area of 30,000 square meters and has been described as the largest installation of its kind worldwide focused on this theme.
Crucial support from historic companies such as Luisa Spagnoli has helped highlight the strong link between the city’s industrial identity and creative innovation. The choice of Palazzo Anzidei is no coincidence: today it hosts LAB – Luisa Annibale Base, a multifunctional space that interacts with the nearby City of Chocolate, an experiential museum inaugurated on November 1 and considered the largest in the world dedicated to cocoa.
Made possible through the use of nine high-power projectors positioned in the former Covered Market, the Porta Sole installation acts as a bridge between industrial memory, digital creativity, and experiential tourism. Inspired by confectionery traditions and the founding of Perugina in 1907, Giuman’s work pays tribute to figures such as Luisa Spagnoli and invites visitors to rediscover one of Perugia’s strongest identity symbols through a spectacular visual experience. Visitors are immersed in sensory journeys that narrate the evolution of chocolate, blending culture and entertainment in a highly engaging way.
The overall holiday program, titled “Perugia, a Christmas Together,” runs until January 6, 2026 and offers a rich and varied calendar. In addition to synthetic ice skating rinks—such as the one inaugurated at the Covered Market—events will take place throughout the city, including themed winter gardens, Christmas trees and nativity scenes, holiday markets at Rocca Paolina, theatrical performances, creative workshops for children, and a wide range of gospel and classical music concerts.
Major highlights include the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration in Piazza IV Novembre and events linked to the Epiphany. Developed through collaboration between the municipal administration, local business associations, and community groups, the program aims to actively support the local economy and reinforce the historic center as a vibrant, living space. The goal is to offer a high-quality Christmas experience capable of attracting a broad audience while maintaining a respectful and balanced approach to the urban context.
Perugia presents itself as a laboratory of creativity, art, and participation, reaffirming its desire to tell its story through light, beauty, and a shared sense of belonging—summed up in the phrase: “Turning on the lights means turning on Christmas.”
Source: UmbriaJournal.com
