Xmas Factory 2018: Bellini Garden, protagonist of Christmas in Catania
First edition of Xmas Factory: from 14th to 27th December at Bellini Garden
For the first time Catania is hosting a big Christmas market at Bellini Garden, from 14th to 27th December: Xmas Factory 2018. The event is organized by Pop Market Sicily.
The municipal park is open at the public, as always, to ensure free admission to the event.
Our wonderful Bellini Garden is hosting various stands and gazebos where you can buy everything. Our Villa Bellini is transformed into a Christmas Village, made of colors, music and flavors!
As in every Christmas fair, in the various stands you can find bags, accessories, books, vintage clothing, bicycles, records, handicrafts, and Christmas gifts to give to friends and relatives.
But wait… that’s not at all! What would be inevitable in a Sicilian fair? We believe you already know the answer! Street food will be the main character of this new event. In fact there is a temporary market (called the XMAS KITCHEN) where you can taste the typical products of our city: there will be arancini, crepes, tavola calda, pistachio products, caramelized fruit, panettone and much more. The Chef Bianca Celano is going to inaugurate the Xmas Kitchen, but there will be other guests and other chefs too.
The program also includes workshops, various creative activities and entertainment: the event will please adults and children, as well as visitors from Catania and tourists.
It is going to be 14 days of fun, at the biggest municipal park in Catania, the most beloved one from locals. The event was organized thanks to the spirit of sharing and collaboration between the people of Catania, as the City Mayor has declared.
Xmas Factory is opening to the public from 11.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. during the week; on weekends it will be open from 11.00 a.m. to Midnight; on holidays and on days before holidays the timetable is different:
Christmas Eve: From 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.
Christmas Day: From 17.00 to 23.00
Saint Stephen’s Day (26th December): From 11.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
The Bellini Garden is the perfect location
We from Catania are really happy about this initiative, able to promote our territory and give the city moments of fun. The choice of its location, moreover, is perfect: the Bellini Garden is one of the most beautiful parks in Italy and is an emblem of Catania. For us from Catania, the Bellini Garden is our Villa. We are very attached to it. Bellini Garden is a symbol of summer walks, of relaxing moments, of morning runs, of games for children during Carnival, of romantic walks… it is simply a point of reference for everyone. We from Catania usually meet in front of the Villa.
On the eighteenth century, the Garden originally belonged to Prince Ignazio Paternò Castello di Biscari. The architectural structure gives the Garden the typical appearance of a labyrinth, as was fashionable in the eighteenth century.
The Bellini Garden is located in Via Etnea, one of the most fashionable streets of Catania. With an area of 70,942 square meters, it is the largest municipal garden in Catania. Inside the Garden, there are trees and vegetation of various species, flowerbeds, statues, bridges, fountains, playground for children, sports facilities and large squares. The Bellini Garden usually hosts concerts, events and exhibitions.
There is a an entire avenue dedicated to the illustrious Sicilian men, who over the years have become known for their deeds or their works: from Giovanni Verga to Mario Rapisardi. It is called The Avenue of the Illustrious Men and it fascinates sculpture’s enthusiasts and tourists.
The Bellini Garden is one of the most visited places by tourists who choose Catania as their holiday destination: usually they sit on a bench in the park, enjoying their lunch based on tavola calda or other typical products.
Placing a Christmas Market right in the Bellini Garden is a great idea. We will be there! And you?
If you do not know how to reach the Bellini Garden, you could opt for a transfer service. Otherwise, before XMAS Factory, you can take advantage of our Walking Food Tour, to walk through the decorated streets of Catania, tasting the best typical specialties.