If you haven't already been to Castle Limatola, I urge you to go. Marito, Bambino and I went this past Friday (Black Friday) to see what all the hype is about. If you've been following my blogs over the past two years then you know I LOVE Christmas Markets. My love for them started when I went on a USO tour our first Christmas here to Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck. There is something magical about Christmas Markets and I know it will be the one thing I miss most about Europe during the winter holidays.
I have been waiting for Thanksgiving to come and go just so I can decorate my house with a bunch of the things I've gotten from previous Christmas Markets. Ultimately since Italians don't celebrate Thanksgiving I put my tree and decorations up way early! This gave me an advantage to seeing just how much space my décor takes up and how much house I have left to fill with new Christmas stuff from the markets I plan to go to this year. Anyways, back on track to Castle Limatola.
This beautiful and quaint castle rests in a valley and is approximately 15 miles from Support Site but 45 minutes of driving (that's Naples for ya!). Marito, Bambino and I left from Support Site just after 4 pm and made it to the castle by 5. Our driving directions wanted to take us up a road we couldn't go so we just followed the traffic and found a parking attendant close to town for 5 Euros (we paid for parking before going to the castle). The gentle man directed us up the street just a bit and then follow the pathway of lights to the Castle. It was a nice walk- would have been nicer if I wasn't wearing boots with a heal. Please don't wear heals to this castle! There is A LOT of incline slopes. I was walking slower than a grandma (no offense) going down making sure I don't bust my ass.
When you get to the top, there are some wooden huts- some are selling a few items, then there are two where you will line up to purchase your entrance tickets. Monday-Friday the cost is 3 Euros per adult, on Saturday and Sunday it is 5 Euros per adult. Not sure what the cost is for children. The plus side is that for each adult ticket you get a free glass of Vin Brule (Mulled Spiced Wine!)
Once you enter the castle, you just may encounter a Jester performing with fire. I found it interesting that the performer just started swinging fire in the air with nothing keeping people from walking in his path, so be on the look out. No one looks good with singed eyebrows! Keep following the pathway, yet more ramps that I dreaded the walk down on our way back and you will find all sorts of vendors, passing out free samples of their breads, chocolate wine balls (OH SO YUMMY!), wooded ornaments for sale and more. Part of the markets is indoors, and there are actors portraying workers back in the medieval days making their crafts right in the center of the room. If you look up you can see the choir singing Michael Buble's rendition of Jingle Bell (only one bell haha) up on a balcony.
As you exit the castle to go back outside, there is a Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) for pictures. The line can get long for not only Santa, but for the entire market. Fortunately when we went on Friday it wasn't so bad. No one likes being herded like cattle through IKEA, and the same goes for Christmas markets. The market ends on December 8, so this is your last chance to go. I highly suggest you go on a week night to avoid the crowds.
All in all the market was beautiful, the Vin Brule was delicious, the lights were pretty, and a great kick start to the winter holidays. I am even more pumped to go to the Christmas Markets in Northern Italy and a couple other countries. Next on my list to head out to Salerno for the Christmas lights. I can't believe that I have lived here the past two Christmases and have not made it to the lights!
Let me just remind you, please don't wear heals to Castel Limatola! You'll be happy you didn't!
