Christmas is a very colorful season throughout Italy: from north to south, passing through the islands, the country lights up with lights and shines with magic. But this year there is something even more special, an incredible show that is an event he had never seen before. Is called “Islands of Light” and now together we will discover what it is and when it is possible to participate.
“New light” for historic buildings by the lake
THE lakes Maggiore and Orta are two truly precious pearls of our country. Among their calm waters are beautiful islands that benefit this year from a new project that strongly focuses on promoting and enhancing the local tourist and cultural heritage. How? It gives “new light” to the historic lake structures – between fishing and faith – present on both islands through two prestigious light shows which visitors will be able to enjoy throughout the holidays.
Francesco Gaiardelli, The president of the Ossol Lakes, Mountains, and Valleys tourist area announced via a press release that: “for our events, it was decided to once again prioritize a type of show with a low environmental impact, which was quiet and evocative at the same time, ideal for creating a unique Christmas atmosphere.”
Already these days, the lights cover the buildings, the most beautiful monuments, and the most evocative corners of the two islands with colors. The result is an exceptional panorama with thousands of sparkling colors that are reflected in the water and create a sort of floating nativity scene.
Starting Tuesday, December 12, with a daily switch from 5 pm to 1 am, and throughout the holiday season, buildings and landmarks will be decorated with magical lighting, which in turn will create a magical backdrop.
The islands chosen for these events also feature two “villages of excellence” that also lend themselves wonderfully to their special charm: Fisherman’s Islandspectacle in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola overlooking Lake Maggiore and Giulio Islandthe only “floating” plot of land on Lake Orta and a real gem of the province of Novara
Performance at Fishermen’s Island
Several projectors have already begun to radically modify the island, which is now the protagonist, and the party atmosphere is reflected in the water. Slow-motion animations bring to life hundreds of ever-changing color combinations that span the entire surface.
Isola dei Pescatori is a fascinating lakeside village of excellence and indeed the only island in the Borromean Archipelago that is permanently inhabited.
When you get there, you will find yourself in front of a picture-postcard village that seems painted on water, and then you will get lost in a magnificent maze of cobbled streets, which you will navigate strictly on foot and admire the characteristic multi-story colorful houses.
It belongs to the territory of the municipality of Stresa and offers a lakeside promenade surrounded by elegant hotels, where you can also taste the typical cookies of Stresa, the Margherita, which was first baked in 1857 by the Stresa confectioner Pietro Antonio Bolongaro. he made a woman fall in love Queen Margaret; it was in honor of the empress that the fragrant cookies got her name.
The administration of the city of Stresa welcomed the “Island of Light” event with great enthusiasm and thanked the Lake Tourist District for the initiative, which aims to attract local tourism in the winter season and thus extend the season.
Among other things, Stresa has been the City of Christmas since 2021 and this initiative will prove to be another opportunity to increase the interest and visibility of the city, which will also offer video mapping initiatives, Christmas lights, Christmas Christmas markets, rides, creative games and other important events for adults and children.
Parade on the island of San Giulio
The lighting on the fascinating and unique island of San Giulio will certainly not be a minor protagonist, where the show started on Friday, December 15, and will continue throughout the holidays with daily switching on from 5 pm to 1 am.
Not to be missed is Giotto’s Stars, an installation that combines poetry, spectacle, and mysticism. The island is painted in light and dark blue tones with some golden yellow elements.
The island of San Giulio on Lake Orta falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the municipality of Orta San Giulio and is the tallest building built on an ancient castle, a seminary from 1844, today the Benedictine abbey “Mater Ecclesiae”. The Basilica of San Giulio, founded in the 4th century, is equally incredible, as is the Ambo of the monolith in grey-green serpentine from Oira and the crypt with the silver reliquary (1697) containing the remains of San Giulio. There is a circular road around the whole island, the so-called “Via del Silenzio e della Meditazione” depending on how you travel along it.
“In the silence of the night, the magic of colors that illuminate the island of San Giulio with light makes the atmosphere of Lake Orta a small treasury of beauty and harmony. It makes you dream and excited. Looking at the star of the comet, the soul is filled with Peace and the Spirit remains rich in joy and hope,” said Orta San Giulio Mayor Dr. Giorgio Angeleri.
“It is a real honor to continue working with the Lakes Tourist District,” said afterward Cristiano Pigino, CEO of Proietta SRL, emphasizing that: “On the island of San Giulio, we chose a theme in line with the location of an ancient and active monastic monastery to celebrate Giotto, the genius and master who revolutionized painting. Its stars, unique and recognizable, together with the characteristic shades of blue and yellow “paint” the island in the context of the extraordinary natural landscape that surrounds it. The Christmas installation created on the Isola dei Pescatori is instead meant to be a sign of calm through lights and colors at a time of great international tragedies. The aim is to convey emotions through the constant change of colors generated by the many small LED projectors placed at strategic locations around the island. Thank you for your trust and the opportunity to be a part of these exciting new projects.”