The Christmas lights will be switched on on November 23rd. This was announced a few weeks ago by the Mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, in a press conference after the Governing Board.
From the Tourism portal of the Madrid City Council they point out that the Christmas lights will be turned on from the end of November until January 7 in streets, squares and buildings of the city, meeting “the strictest requirements of respect for the environment and energy efficiency”.
Specifically, the page points out that “more than 230 locations will be illuminated, with 6,600 chains, 115 cherry trees and eleven large luminous fir trees spread throughout the capital”. As always, the lighting will include proposals from renowned designers and specialists to which new additions will be added”. Among them, Roberto Verino, who will design the luminous fir tree in Plaza Mayor.
The novelties of the Christmas lights in Madrid this 2023
For this Christmas, the Madrid Consistory points out that “more than ten novelties” will be incorporated. One of the most significant has to do with the inauguration of the lighting, since it will not be in Plaza de España as last year.
Instead, it will be moved to another more recently intervened square: Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, which will be the core of the Christmas lighting at 7 pm. At the moment it is unknown who will be the person in charge of turning on the lights: last year, remember, it was Lucio, from Casa Lucio.
On the other hand, the controversial fir tree felled in Plaza de España will not be installed again. And it will not be the only change in this location: the large luminous ball that is traditionally located at the junction of Alcalá street with Gran Vía this year will be placed in this square, near the Jardines de Sabatini.
According to Gran Madrid, which has had access to the lighting designs, Gran Vía will be decorated as a “winter garden” of lights, reproducing plants typical of this time of the year. Specifically, there will be poinsettias, Alger lilies, winter cactus, belladonna, butcher’s broom, holly, mistletoe or princettias.
Naviluz, the Christmas bus
On the other hand, the Naviluz service will be re-launched. Predictably, notes the Madrid City Council, it will run from November 24 to January 7.