Every year Sorrento offers a program rich in events from the 1st December to the 8th January. 

The program of Christmas activities, “Winter Illumination” 2009 provides citizens and tourists alike, a vast range of interesting options:  displays, markets, concerts, theatre and more to bring the spirit and magic of the Christmas period alive in Sorrento.

Arranged by the Sorrento municipality in collaboration with the Sorrento Foundation, the program of Christmas events 2009 and New Year 2010 in Sorrento, will open with an annual happening: The Professional Days of Cinema, when the pre-screening for the 30th November will start and then the lights of the Christmas tree erected in Piazza Tasso, will be turned on.

“Winter Illumination” 2009 – 2010, II edition, 30th November 2009 – 6th January 2010

Program of Events

MONDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2009
at 18:00 – the Hall of the Sirens, Hilton Sorrento Palace
Walt Disney Convention (for the first time open to the public).  Entrance for invited guests and schools.
To follow:  National preview of “The princess and the frog”, the next Walt Disney film for Christmas.  Entrance with ticket and invitation.

At 20:00 Piazza Tasso
Disney Celebration in the piazza – cartoons and gadgets
Turning on of the lights and of the Christmas Tree, with the main character of “Toy Story”. Host for the evening is Fabrizio Frizzi, voice of cartoons.

at 21:30 Cine Teatro Armida
National preview.  There will be actors present in the hall.  Invited guests only.

TUESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2009
at 10:00 Cine Teatro Armida
CINEMA LESSONS, IN COLLABORATION WITH AGISCUOLA
Italian cinema – a meeting with a well-knnown actor and director of Italian cinema
Initiative for the schools and the public.  Entrance by invite.

at 17:00 Hall of the Sirens, Hilton Sorrento Palace
National preview.  Actors will be present in the hall.  Entrance by invite.

at 20:00 Piazza Tasso
WELCOME COCKTAIL IN THE PIAZZA
The city of Sorrento welcomes its guests.

at 20:30 Cine Teatro Armida
Gala Evening.  Gold Ticket 2009.  Awards Ceremony presented by Lorena Bianchetti.  Honoured guests are awarded by Italian Cinema.  Entrance by invite.
To follow National preview.  Entrance by invite.

WEDNESDAY 2ND DECEMBER 2009
at 10:00 Cine Teatro Armida
Cinema lessons in collaboration with Agiscuola
Italian Cinema, a meeting with a noted actor and/or director of Italian cinema.
Initiative for the schools and for the public.  Entrance by invite.

at 17:00 Hall of the Sirens, Hilton Sorrento Palace
National preview – the last film by the Vanzina brothers.
Surprise guests.   Entrance by invite.

at 21:00 Cine Teatro Armida
NATIONAL PREVIEW OF “THE BLACK MAN”
Honoured guests:  Riccardo Scamarcio, Valeria Golino, Sergio Rubini, Margherita Buy e Anna Falchi.
Entrance by invite.

THURSDAY 3RD DECEMBER 2009
at 10:00 Cine Teatro Armida
Cinema lessons in collaboration with Agiscuola.
Italian Cinema – a meeting with a noted actor and/or director of Italian cinema.
Initiative for the schools and the public.  Entrace by invite.

at 17:00 Hall of the Sirens, Hilton Sorrento Palace.
NATIONAL PREVIEW, distributor’s convention.  Entrance by invite.

at 21:30 Cine Teatro Armida
NATIONAL PREVIEW.  Present will be the actors and director of the film.  Entrance by invite.

FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2009
at 17:00 Cine Teatro Armida     
RETROSPECTIVE:HOMAGE TO THE GREAT MASTER OF ITALIAN CINEMA, PIETRO GERMI. Entrance by invite.

at 21:00 Cine Teatro Tasso
CLOSING EVENING. SHOWING OF SPECIAL PREVIEW.
HOMAGE TO PIETRO GERMI “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN” (restored copy), on the 25th anniversari of his death.  Guests and personalities from the world of cinema.  Entrance by invite.       
 
at 20:00 Hall annexed to the Church of Saint Paul
Concert by Brasilian guitarist Yamadou Costa, “Sounds of wine ‘09”.  Entrance free.

SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2009
at 18:00 Villa Fiorentino
Inauguration of the exhibition of inlaid woodwork by the master Giuseppe Rocco and nativity art by master craftsman Marco Ferrigno.
The exhibition will remain open everyday until the 6th January 2010, 08:00 – 13:00 and 15:00 – 21:00.  Entrance is free.

at 20:00 Hall annexed to the Church of Saint Paul
Concert by harpist Cecilia Chailly, “sounds of Wine ‘09”.  Entrance is free.

SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and the main town piazza’s.
ANIMATION with the presence of the theatre artists.

at 18:30 Hall annexed to the Church of Saint Paul
concert by percussionist Ciccio Merolla

at 20:30 Hall annexed to the Church of Saint Paul
concert by violinist Lino Cannavacciuolo, closing exhibition of the manifestation “Sounds of Wine ‘09”.  Entrance is free.

MONDAY 7TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and main town piazza’s
Animation with the presence of local folk-band “Piedigrotta Sorrentina”.

TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and main town piazza’s
Animation with the presence of the theatre artists     


FRIDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Hall of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno Sorrento/S.Agnello
concert by the harp quartet “Melarpa Ense”         
Concert “Centre of ancient music “Piety of the Turks”, care of S.C.S. di Sorrento.Entrance free.

SUNDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2009
Hall of “Azienda autonoma MBLE”
Music of Handel, Pachelbel, Nademan, Hoffenbach and modern authors.  Entrance is free.

SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Cathedral or Basilica of Saint Antony
Hall of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno Sorrento/S.Agnello
Music by the harp quartet (violin, viola and cello) “ENARMONIA”
Music of Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Pergolesi e Cimarosa.  Entrance is free.

WEDNESDAY 16TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and main town piazza’s
Animation with the presence of local folk-band “Piedigrotta Sorrentina”

FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and main town piazza’s
Animation with the presence of local folk-band “Piedigrotta Sorrentina”

SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Council Room of the Sorrento Municipality
Concert by the Sorrento Orchestra “Together in Music”
Music by Mozart, Bach, Strauss, Handel and other contemporaries.   Entrance is free.

SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER 2009
Corso Italia and main town piazza’s
Animation with the presence of the theatre artists.

TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Council Room of the Sorrento Municipality
Christmas concert performed by the youth orchestra of the association A.T.S. Sorrento Jazz.  Entrance is free.

WEDNESDAY 23RD DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Council Room of the Sorrento Municipality
Christmas concert by the Sorrento orchestra “Together in music”
Christmas music and film music.  Entrance is free.

SATURDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2009
at 20:30 Hall of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno Sorrento/S.Agnello
Exhibition of the formation of music “Natalea”, pieces by Napoletan, Calabrian and Sicilian pastors and traditional Sardinese songs and recitations of traditional popular text.
Instruments used:  ethnic percussion, guitar and leaf guitar, accordion and barrel-organ, classic guitar.  Performing voices.  Entrance is free.

SUNDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2009
at 18:30 Via San Cesareo
Tables and tombola’s, animation as it was in times gone by

MONDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2009
Council Room of the Sorrento Municipality
Classical and contemporary music concert by the youth orchestra of the association ATS Sorrento.

at 18:00 Piazza Tasso
Switching on of the “Ciuccio di Fuoco” and performance of the “New Year’s Songs” by “Piedigrotta Sorrentina” and the public’s participation.


FRIDAY 1ST JANUARY 2010
at 00:01
On the Marina Piccola jetty – fireworks display over the Bay of Sorrento.


SATURDAY 2ND JANUARY 2010
at 20:30 Hall of the Azienda Autonoma di Soggiorno Sorrento/S.Agnello
“TARANTELLA STORTA”.  Concert by the Antonello Paliotti Quartet (guitar, mandolin, mandola, cello and percussion).  Traditional Partenopean music.
Entrance is free.                        

WEDNESDAY 6TH JANUARY 2010
Piazzo Tasso, town streets and other locations
DAY OF TORMENT


From the 8th to the 24th December, 10:00 – 22:00 non-stop, at the renovated Piazza Veniero, Market of Christmas Curiosities.