Winter in Motta San Giovanni

Motta San Giovanni · Motta San Giovanni, Costa Viola, Calabria

31 October 2026

Concluded event

From 31 October 2026 to 9 February 2027 the Pro Loco of Motta San Giovanni presents Un inverno speciale insieme (A Special Winter Together), a calendar of more than thirty events in the main town and the hamlets of Lazzaro, Serro Valanidi, Cambareri and Sant'Elia, run by parishes, local associations and the municipality. Highlights include the chestnut feast in Lazzaro (7 November), a talk on saffron at Colle dell'Oleandro (15 November), a gathering of folk accordion and tambourine players in Serro Valanidi (29 November), the feast of Saint Barbara, the Christmas markets on 12 and 13 December in Piazza della Municipalità, neighbourhood nativity scenes, the living nativity on 3 January, the Befana and Carnival. Events take place in squares, churches and public spaces and the calendar mentions no tickets; times and details of each event are left to the posters of the individual associations.

A Special Winter Together: the calendar and who runs it

Un inverno speciale insieme (A Special Winter Together) is the calendar in which the Pro Loco of Motta San Giovanni, the local community association, gathers the events of winter 2026-2027; the poster also carries the logos of UNPLI, the national union of Pro Loco associations, and of the town of Motta San Giovanni. It starts on Saturday 31 October and ends on Tuesday 9 February 2027, across the main town and the hamlets of Lazzaro, Serro Valanidi, Cambareri and Sant'Elia.

Each event has its own organiser: the parishes of Santa Caterina V.M. in Motta and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lazzaro, the Virtus San Paolo association in Serro Valanidi, the miners' association Commemorare per ricordare, the Rotary Club Reggio Calabria Est, neighbourhood groups, sports clubs, the Pro Loco itself and the municipality. The poster notes that details of each event will appear on the posters published by the individual associations.

Late October and November: chestnuts, saffron and Santo Niceto

The calendar opened on 31 October with a chestnut feast in the main town, the Notte dei Santuari (Night of the Sanctuaries) at 9pm at the sanctuary of Maria SS. Assunta del Leandro, and a Halloween party at the Mondo Magico play centre in Serro Valanidi. On Saturday 7 November the parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie holds the Lazzaro chestnut feast; on Sunday 8, from 4pm at Palattinà in Lazzaro, the municipality's sports department hosts Un calcio al cancro (A kick against cancer).

On Sunday 15 November at 11am, at Colle dell'Oleandro, the Rotary Club Reggio Calabria Est presents Radici d'oro: dalla terra alla cultura dello zafferano (Golden roots: saffron from the field to culture). On Friday 20 November at 3pm the castle of San Niceto hosts Santo Niceto: un culto da riscoprire (a cult to rediscover), organised by the Sacred Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy.

29 November and Saint Barbara: accordions, a market and the miner's tree

Sunday 29 November is the busiest day. In Lazzaro the parish Christmas market opens at 8am in Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, and at 5pm the volunteer association Inholtre holds the conference Con cura per realizzare il progetto di vita! at the Paolo Capua community centre. At 4pm in Piazza della Municipalità, in the main town, the miners' association Commemorare per ricordare sets up the Albero del minatore (Miner's tree), with Rudolph the reindeer as special guest; at 6pm Serro Valanidi hosts a frittolata together with a gathering of organetto (folk accordion) and tambourine players.

On 3 and 4 December Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lazzaro hosts the celebrations for Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners; on 4 December the miners' association also commemorates the deceased miners of the municipality of Motta San Giovanni.

Nativity displays, tree lightings and markets

On Saturday 5 December at 7pm the association Quelli del Presepe opens the nativity scene display Presepi in mostra 2026 at the Paolo Capua community centre in Lazzaro. On Sunday 6 December the Leucopetra archaeological museum in Lazzaro hosts the Pro Loco's Addobba l'albero insieme a noi, a children's tree-decorating workshop with the arrival of Father Christmas, and at 7pm another Presepi in mostra event. On Tuesday 8 December, Immaculate Conception day, the Christmas tree in Serro Valanidi is lit at 6.30pm, while Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lazzaro hosts a crispellata.

On Friday 11 December the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie hosts the Concerto dei Reale. On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December the main town holds the 2026 Christmas markets, run by the municipality in Piazza della Municipalità and Piazza del Borgo; on Sunday 20 December at 7pm the Pro Loco brings Christmas Street Food to Lazzaro.

Christmas in the neighbourhoods: nativity scenes, concerts and tombola

On Tuesday 22 December at 6pm Virtus San Paolo displays its realistic nativity scene in Serro Valanidi; on Wednesday 23 the parish of Santa Caterina V.M. presents Il canto di Natale in the main town. On Saturday 26 December at 6.30pm, in Piazza Caduti sul Lavoro in Lazzaro, the Gruppo Presepe Lazzaro centro presents Un presepe per ogni quartiere (A nativity scene for every neighbourhood); on Sunday 27 the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie hosts a concert by the parish choir.

On Monday 28 December the sports tombola, the Italian Christmas bingo, takes place at Palattinà, run by CS Lazzaro 1974, and on Tuesday 29 Cambareri holds an evening for its own Un presepe per ogni quartiere, organised by the Gruppo Cambareri. On Sunday 3 January 2027 the parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie stages the living nativity between Sant'Elia and Lazzaro.

Epiphany, Carnival and practical information

On Wednesday 6 January the Befana, the good witch of the Italian Epiphany, arrives twice: at 4.30pm at the Mondo Magico play centre in Serro Valanidi and in Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lazzaro. Carnival is celebrated on Saturday 6 February in Lazzaro and on Sunday 7 February in the main town, both run by the Pro Loco; on Tuesday 9 February, the last day of Carnival, the Condominio Sant'Elia closes the calendar with frittole sandwiches.

The events take place in squares, churches, community centres and public spaces and the calendar mentions no entrance tickets; for food events and the tombola, details are on the associations' own posters. For times and confirmations, follow the Facebook page of the Pro Loco of Motta San Giovanni.

Getting there and what to see in Motta San Giovanni

Motta San Giovanni lies just south of Reggio Calabria. From the A2 motorway, which ends in Reggio, continue south on the SS106 Ionian coast road to Lazzaro, the seaside hamlet; the main town sits in the hills about 8 kilometres from Lazzaro. The calendar does not mention dedicated parking.

Two places linked to the programme are worth a visit: the castle of Santo Niceto, a Byzantine fortress built in the first half of the 11th century on a rocky height overlooking Reggio, and the Leucopetra archaeological museum in Lazzaro. Leucopetra, "white stone", was the Greek and Roman name for Lazzaro, after the colour of the nearby Capo dell'Armi headland. Motta is also known for working pietra reggina, a limestone quarried locally. For more events in the province, see the events calendar.

Frequently asked questions

When does A Special Winter Together take place in Motta San Giovanni?

From 31 October 2026 to 9 February 2027, with most events between late November and early January.

Where in the municipality are the events held?

In the main town and in the hamlets of Lazzaro, Serro Valanidi, Cambareri and Sant'Elia; Lazzaro hosts the most events.

Are the events free?

The calendar mentions no entrance tickets: events take place in squares, churches and public spaces. For food events or the tombola, details are on the posters of the individual associations.

When are the Christmas markets?

On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026 in the main town, in Piazza della Municipalità and Piazza del Borgo, run by the municipality.

When is the living nativity?

On Sunday 3 January 2027 between Sant'Elia and Lazzaro, staged by the parish of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Where does the Befana arrive on 6 January?

At 4.30pm at the Mondo Magico play centre in Serro Valanidi and in Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie in Lazzaro.

When is Carnival?

On Saturday 6 February 2027 in Lazzaro and Sunday 7 February in the main town; on Tuesday 9 February frittole sandwiches in Sant'Elia close the calendar.

Where can I find times and details of each event?

The Pro Loco calendar gives times only for some events and refers to the posters each association will publish; it is worth following the Pro Loco's Facebook page.

Related events and news

All Costa Viola events