2022 City Christmas lights

Christmas atmosphere in Bologna will be charmingly brightened by the presence of illuminations throughout the historic centre installed on some of the city's most iconic landmarks.

Piazza Nettuno benefits as usual from the presence of a large Christmas tree decorated and lit for the occasion, donated once again  this year by the municipality of Lizzano in Belvedere in the Apennines near Bologna. The imposing 30-metre-high fir tree is one of the largest the square has ever boasted. Friends of the environment have no fear: the tree was supposed to be felled anyway for safety reasons!

The Christmas tree is decked out with decorations of warm white LED micro-lights wrapped around the branches, while red and white stars are interspersed with golden spheres about 40 centimetres in diameter. Likewise, a star with LED micro-lights stands atop the tree.

Yuletide spirit can be breathed throughout the main streets of the city centre, beautifully decorated with illuminations and garlands in warm colours, from the broader Via Rizzoli or Via Indipendenza to the characteristic alleys of the university district and the old Jewish ghetto.

Saturday, December 10 also via d'Azeglio will start brighting with the lighting of the illuminations, dedicated this year to 'Imagine' by John Lennon. After the tributes to Lucio Dalla, Cesare Cremonini and Raffaella Carrà, this year the choice fell on the famous song of the 'Beatles' who passed away in 1980, for the strength of his timeless words and for the important references to Peace.

The words People, Religion, World, Dreamer are colorful and reproduced in capital letters aiming at arousing a responsibility and attributing further influence on who will read and who will sing them. The title and the word Peace are designed by Jago, famous international artist, whose works are now displayed at the exhibition "Jago, Banksy, tvboy" at Palazzo Albergati.

Perhaps Bologna's most iconic monument, the Asinelli Tower, has been floodlit with evocative hues that echo those of the monument's brickwork, using advanced technologies allowing for a highly homogenous illumination and a dramatic scenic effect, while at the same time saving energy. The tower is to remain 'switched on' with LED lighting until 9th January 2023, every day and along all sides.