Valdichiana Senese to be lived during the holiday season

Cetona, the native place of painter Lionello Balestrieri and second home of the writer Guido Ceronetti, welcomes the holiday with “I concerti degli auguri” (The concerts of greetings), one in the capital city and one in Piazze, and greets 2024 with the New Year’s Eve Toast, in Piazza Garibaldi in Cetona on December 31.

In Chianciano Terme is not to be missed a visit to Santa Claus’ House at the Acquasanta Park, or a Christmas experience with alpacas, in addition to the possibility to visit the only exhibition in Italy Play-Mobile set up at the Vegni Room.

Sunday, December 31, in Chiusi, the waiting for the new year is to be experienced in the square with the fire pyre celebration and music. On January 6, after the arrival of the Befana, Paolo L'Illusionista (Paolo The Illusionist) will entertain children with its prestigious magic games. Sunday, January 7 free entrance day at the National Etruscan Museum.

In Montepulciano a walk between the market in Piazza Grande and the Christmas Terrace to taste a good glass of the wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG is not to be missed. The imposing Medici Fortress houses, per tradition, the House of Santa Claus. The appointment with New Year’s Eve in Piazza Grande is renewed for December 31, with live music and DJ set to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new.

Santa Claus arrives in San Casciano dei Bagni, Celle sul Rigo and Palazzone on December 24, and briscola and panforte competitions are held in the following days, until the arrival of the Befana. In addition, every Saturday is possible to make a reservation for the archeological walks to the Rediscovered Sanctuary, where the prestigious statues in bronze and the Apollo in marble were rediscovered.

Sarteano in December turns into “Sarteano Village of Nativity Scenes”. There are many appointments that revolve around the diffused exhibition “L’Arte nella Natività” (The Art of Nativity), an exhibition of nativity art that winds among the streets of the historic center in four stages: in the Exhibition Room, Enrico Genovesi, a well-known master of national nativity scenes, will exhibit with a reproduction of a scene of life of 19th century Rome. In the rooms of the Ancient Pharmacy Bologni, Alfonso Pepe from Campania displays his interpretation of the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene. Third stage in the Art Room, named after Domenico Beccafumi, where the works in terracotta, that retrace the history of the Nazareth family, realized by Marcello Aversa - artist from Sorrento recognized at an international level and whose collection have been exhibited in Madrid, Brussels, Venice, Milan, Genoa, Florenze, Vatican City and for Lucio Dalla Foundation - are on display. Last stop at the Museum of Nativity Scenes from the World, with new pieces purchased from national and international artists.

If Bettolle, hamlet of Sinalunga, becomes the City of Nativity Scene on December 26, with the living nativity scene along the streets of the historic center, on January 5, soccer players take the field at Carlo Angeletti Stadium for the charity match in support of Meyer Foundation. The next day in Piazza Garibaldi in Sinalunga, street food and markets, living nativity scene, many acrobatic, Chinese shadow and fire performances and percussion.

On the afternoon of December 26, Torrita di Siena returns to life with the living nativity scene along the streets of the historic center and in the same afternoon there will be the possibility to visit free of charge and upon reservation the Vertical Farm, the vertical vegetable garden set up at the anti-aircraft tunnel.

In Trequanda on December 24, in Piazza Garibaldi, Santa Claus arrives with his sleigh and many gifts for the children and in Castelmuzio, again on December 24, in Piazza IV Novembre: “Aspettando Babbo Natale” (Waiting for Santa Claus). Still in Castelmuzio, Saturday, January 6 the sporting event “Befana Evo 2023” running and amateur walking in the surroundings of the city, to end the day with the “Trasimeno Gospel Choir” at the Museum della Compagnia.