A Campania Christmas Castle
The Christmas Markets of Europe are far from new - they’ve long been a staple of the season for many and a siren song for those travelers looking to explore outside the summer holiday. Depending on the city, these markets can draw thousands of international visitors each year, pushing an already busy event to a fever pitch. For the traveler keen to partake but intent on skirting the oversaturated cities, you’ll want to add an overnight stay at the Castle of Limatola to your list of options to consider.
Set in the inland expanse of Campania, Limatola is a small town of approximately 4,000 residents and is finely accentuated by the jutting profile of its castle - Castello di Limatola. Built by the Normans in the 12th century, it now stands as a beautiful focal point of the area and serves as a hotel, venue space, and host to the annual Cadeaux al Castello Christmas Market. While a wonderful destination for the market alone, an overnight weekend stay at the castle is recommended to fully enjoy the splendor of the event. Besides, when else will you be able to stay the night in a Christmas Castle!
Upon arrival - should you choose to visit as a guest of the hotel - you are ushered up into the grounds from the lower parking lot via golf cart. The climb is long and steep as you enter (hold onto those bags!) and sweeps you past a visual feast of richly decorated stalls, a glittering ferris wheel, Santa’s house, and a swirling sea of colorful characters. As a guest, your accommodations put you at the heart of the event with festivities and merchants spilling into the courtyards, hallways, and alcoves of the castle up to the very threshold of your room. You may find a hot chocolate booth directly outside your front door or perhaps a vendor of antique Venetian jewelry wishing you good morning as you step out for breakfast. Your walk to dinner subjects you to the tempting call of home-made fudge and wheels of parmigiano proudly displayed for purchase while a stroll through the garden unearths a courtyard overflowing with leather bags, wooden toys, and crystal snow globes.
An extensive exploration of the property will leave anyone in a state of childlike wonder - following hallways and staircases in pursuit of nooks and crannies inevitably ends with the discovery of even more delights. Costumed entertainers bring an added taste of spirited fun to the event; from knights and falconers to jugglers and magicians the staff have put painstaking detail into delivering an experience above and beyond expectation. Court jesters patrol the grounds in pursuit of jovial participants for their good natured mockery while traveling minstrels linger in courtyard corners adding melody to the moment. Performances of magic, music, and spectacle peak in the evening hours, and even the Grinch himself sets up home in the main courtyard offering endearing yet grumpy conversation to passersby.
In short, this hidden gem is a wonderful opportunity to live and breathe the holiday season in full decadence and makes a great weekend road trip from nearby Naples just 30 miles away. Hotel staff are welcoming and ready to assist you in English whenever possible, but this option does require a willingness to embrace the language barrier as it arises - how exciting!
