There is a route that combines the rough charm of the mountains with the suspended dimension of the most ancient traditions, a railway line that crosses Friuli-Venezia Giulia and leads to Tarvisio, a town immersed in snow that finds its deepest soul every 5th December. The link with the night of San Nicolò remains very strong, and what happens in its streets creates suggestions capable of leaving their mark. The fulcrum of this experience, however, develops long before arrival: it is born on the tracks, inside a train that seems to have come out of another era.
The historic Krampus train: a journey that smells of the Thirties
The electric locomotive from the 1930s and the Centoporte carriages are ready to welcome travelers on 5 December 2025, at the Trieste platform, with the atmosphere of a railway story built piece by piece. The convoy sets off calmly, draws curves and crosses valleys, while bringing to light a way of traveling that entrusts everything to the slow rhythm of the landscape.
The project was born from the collaboration between the FS Foundation and PromoTurismo FVG and offers one of the most fascinating itineraries planned for Christmas 2025. Those who choose to get on board experience a parenthesis out of time, the perfect opportunity to get closer to meeting the Krampus, figures linked to an ancient imagination rooted in Alpine culture.
Stops, atmosphere and a taste of the territory
The route towards Tarvisio includes several intermediate stops: Monfalcone, Gorizia and Udine open the journey with increasingly more mountainous views. At the Tarvisio Boscoverde station, passengers receive a packed dinner made up of typical products from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a gesture that reinforces the idea of a harmonious journey between railway history and local identity.
The destination finally appears beyond the mountains, while the carriages slow down and prepare for the arrival in a valley where the tradition of San Nicolò retains a central role.
Krampus night in Tarvisio
On December 5th, when darkness rises from the peaks and envelops the town, Tarvisio is transformed into a natural theatre, in which animalistic creatures and figures linked to Germanic, Slavic and Latin roots will cross the most famous streets, from Via Dante to Via Vittorio Veneto, from Via Roma to Piazza Unità, the streets of Tarvisio will be filled with cowbells, fire, heavy footsteps and a tension that will conquer adults and children alike.
The Krampus accompany the figure of Saint Nicholas and symbolically look for children considered “bad”, while he distributes gifts and sweets to the little ones. The parade advances to Rutte Piccolo, a hamlet of Tarvisio, where the forest becomes the perfect backdrop. Each edition welcomes a growing number of visitors, attracted by an atmosphere that speaks to the imagination and remains in the memory.
A celebration that involves the whole of Val Canale
The entire Canale Valley takes part in the anniversary with initiatives spread across the hamlets of Coccau, Fusine, Centrale, Camporosso and Cave del Predil. The territory moves in unison and supports a choral story, still capable of generating amazement and a sense of belonging.
Another highly anticipated detail concerns the morning following the parade, when local children will find a Krampus made of sweet bread on the windowsill, equipped with a small rod. The length indicates the conduct of the little ones during the year, a cheerful and ancient ritual that continues to entertain families.
For info and reservations we refer you to the official website of the historic Krampus train.
