Editorial team
In Vetralla, in the heart of Tuscia, Christmas does not last for a few weeks but is a living universe all year round. Santa Claus’ Kingdom, with a scenic setting of more than 8,000 square meters, is now one of Italy’s most beloved attractions: a permanent Christmas village where children and families can immerse themselves for free in lights, music, Victorian villages, an enchanted forest and the famous Santa Claus House. Born in 2012 as a simple decoration shop, it is now a real tourist attraction that attracts more than 600,000 visitors every year, continues to grow and more and more come from abroad.
The book that brings magic to life: “Lucy and the Midnight Spell”
For Christmas 2025, the Kingdom introduces something new for Italy: “The Midnight Spell”, the first immersive Christmas experience that turns the viewer into the protagonist of a story. This project was born directly from the book “Lucy and the Midnight Spell” by Giorgio Onorato Aquilani (Edizioni Gribaudo – Feltrinelli Group), author and creator of the image of the Kingdom. This is not just an adaptation, but a true three-dimensional translation of the story: what the reader experiences between the pages takes shape in the travel environment, allowing adults and children to physically traverse Lucy’s world.
Her story, subtle and universal, is an invitation to rediscover values such as courage, kindness, trust, and the ability to believe in what is not seen but heard. The immersive experience makes all this real, accompanying visitors through symbolic places such as the Magic Labyrinth, the Room of Mirrors, the Whisper that Divides and the Bridge of Friendship, to the confrontation with Oleg Cuore di Pietra, who in Lucy’s world embodies the violence and fear that only pure light can transform.
Enter history to rediscover your own light
Guided by the Royal Elves, adults and children experience a journey that makes them part of the mission: to save Lucy and free Santa. You don’t watch, you participate. The family moves forward together, overcoming symbolic trials and collaborating as a team. The journey ends with a personal encounter at Santa’s Castle, an ending that in the book is filled with emotion and, in its immersive version, is a moment of authentic magic.
For Giorgio Onorato Aquilani, his experience and his book share the same vision: «People need to understand that magic is not an illusion, but a real possibility that we can bring into our lives every day». “The Midnight Spell” becomes a bridge between narrative, theater, technology and everyday life: a way to rediscover the best parts of oneself through a shared adventure.
A lingering Christmas, an ever-evolving world
Santa Claus’s Kingdom establishes itself as one of the most evocative places in Italy also because of its choice to remain free access, allowing everyone to experience the magic of Christmas without any obstacles. This new experience does not replace the historical setting of the Kingdom, but rather enriches it with a narrative that makes the entire visit more interesting.
And for those who want to take with them the charm experienced in the village, the book “Lucy and the Midnight Spell” offers the possibility of finding in its pages the same emotions that you feel when walking in the Kingdom: a story that touches the heart and, once read, continues to accompany its readers long after the Christmas season.
