Once upon a time in the theater.
Indeed, there is a shower of fairy tales that is about to take place during the holidays, including princesses, spells, elves and great adventures.
Here are the 10 not to be missed, up and down Italy.
And not just for children.
PIPPI LONGSTOCKINGS - Freckles on the nose, striped socks and, for friends, a monkey and a horse with polka dots.
From the pages of Astrid Lindgren, passing through the 70s TV series, the most rebellious girl in fairy tales makes her debut in a musical version from an idea by Gigi Proietti and with the face of the young Margherita Reggiani.
To tell how beautiful it is to break all the rules with creativity.
Until 8 January at the Olimpico in Rome.
RAPUNZEL -After nine years, Lorella Cuccarini returns in the role of Mother Gothel, in the musical that Maurizio Colombi based on the Brothers Grimm, between the inevitable flight of the lanterns over the audience and new characters such as the talking flowers Rosa and Spina.
Until 8 January at the Brancaccio in Rome.
CINDERELLA - The fairy tale par excellence is at the Nazionale di Milano until January 6 with Cinderella The musical, which Giuseppe Galizia based on the libretto by Oscar Hammerstein.
But there is also Cinderella on Prokofiev's notes with choreography by Luciano Cannito, from 6 to 8 January at the Alfieri in Turin.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - It's not Christmas without old Scrooge coming to terms with the spirit of the past, present and future.
The tale of Charles Dickens is on tour with Roberto Ciufoli in the musical by Fabrizio Angelini, between Avezzano, Montecantini Terme, Barletta, Livorno and Ancona.
But there is also the Christmas Carol at the Teatro Il Pozzo and the Pendolo in Naples with Paolo Cresta and Carlo Lomanto.
And the one with a gothic flavor by Teo Paoli at Puccini in Florence, from 26 to 28 December.
THE NUTCRACKER - The battle between the ranks of the Mouse King and those of the toy soldiers, the kingdom of the Sugar Plum Fairy and flying astride a sleigh: the magic of Christmas night and the fairy tale by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann come to life at the Piccolo in Milan with the puppets of the historic Carlo Colla & Figli Company, from 28 December to 6 January.
And with the étoile Jacopo Tissi at La Scala on the notes of Tchaikovsky and the choreography of Rudolf Nureyev, up to
ALICE IN WONDERLAND - The Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, the Queen of Hearts and Lewis Carroll's heroine are at the Epiphany between the Lirico Giorgio Gaber in Milan and the Creberg in Bergamo in the musical by Enrico Botta and Annalisa Benedetti.
But also in the theatrical cartoon by Ferdinando Bruni and Francesco Frongia, Alice underground, until 8 January at the Elfo Puccini in Milan.
PEPPA PIG - TV's most loved pig arrives in Italian theaters with Peppa Pig Live!
A trip to the beach, a family musical that has conquered Europe with new songs and sets.
There will be Miss Rabbit at the wheel and then George, Pedro, Suzy, Papa Pig, Mama Pig.
Until January 8 in Florence, Bologna, Milan.
CHRISTMAS STORIES - The New Year's airplane, I want to give the Befana a gift, The Christmas Wizard.
These are some of the adventures that Piero Gabrielli's Piccola Compagnia brings to Argentina, until January 6, from the pages of Gianni Rodari as well as Bernard Friot, Andrea Valente, Roberto Gandini.
THE ICE QUEEN - The curse of a wicked ruler, two sisters and a great adventure in the snow.
The Befana at the Arcimboldi in Milan is with the tale of H. Andersen in the musical by Maurizio Colombi.
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS - The incredible worlds of the Minimoys and Giants are set off at the Teatro della Polvere in Bitonto (BA), with Jonathan Swift's story adapted by Anna Laura D'Ecclesia, on 6 January.