23 Nov 2021
ALTO ADIGE (South Tyrol/ Süd Tirol)
Bolzano/Bozen: Alpine - Mediterranean Christmas
Bolzano is home to South Tyrol's largest Christmas market. It's held in the Waltherplatz square and though the whole square is a dazzling spectacle of light, the historical Old Town around the square is also a glorious sight before Christmas – lovingly decorated and at its most picturesque. Don't miss the town hall square with its Christmas display of handicrafts, the Silbergasse street and the Kornplatz square with its charity market, and the famous arches with their traditional shops. But what makes it all so magical is the special mix of the traditional conservative values of the Alps and the easy-going Mediterranean lifestyle. An irresistible attraction is the Waltherplatz square with its varied range of concerts and readings, not forgetting the plethora of Christmas gifts and culinary delights on offer. You should definitely sample the Zelten, a traditional fruitcake, with its delicious aroma of cinnamon and carnations.
Welcome Gates:
- Information Point in Alto Adige 60 Street
- Piazza Walther/Waltherplatz
- Christmas Park (near the station)
- Ice skating ring at the Town Hall Square
Open from 26th Nov. 2021 to 6th Jan. 2022 (25th Dec. closed)
ORTISEI
Ortisei is the capital of Val Gardena, a Unesco heritage site set in the heart of the Dolomites and for this Christmas will be transformed into the "Ortisei Christmas Village" through the entire pedestrian area, recreating a magical Christmas atmosphere.
The wooden houses display regional products and food and wine specialties, a rich assortment of desserts, wines and fine spirits and throughout the area there will be nativity scenes in wood and wooden sculptures.
In the suggestive Piazza di Sant'Antonio, a wooden carousel with four mechanically horses will be set up while in Piazza Stetteneck there will be the possibility to post the letter for Santa Claus in the special post box.
An original Advent Calendar will be displayed in the pedestrian area of Ortisei and on 5 December, as per tradition, San Nicolò wanders through the streets and houses of the town bringing gifts and sweets.
Open from 3rd Dec.2021 to 6th Jan. 2022 (25th Dec- 01st Jan closed)
Bressanone/Brixen: Art and history:
The Bressanone Christmas market is held against the magnificent backdrop of the Domplatz square, which features the cathedral, St. Michael's Parish Church and the town hall. If you're looking for some really special presents for friends and family, you'll find lots of great ideas amongst the handmade Christmas decorations and wood carvings displayed on the stands. And if it's a tasty morsel you're after, you'll be spoilt for choice with the wide range of sweet and savoury South Tyrolean delicacies ranging from speck-flavoured dumplings with cabbage to Kaiserschmarrn, shredded pancakes. Children won't believe their eyes when they see the historic steam carousel and people of all ages will love a gentle horse-drawn carriage ride and an exciting tour through the wintry Old Town of Bressanone. Afterwards you can warm yourself up with a mulled wine or hot apple juice and let the joyful Christmas mood work its magic. Or you could take a stroll to the Hofburg, the mighty former residence of Bressanone's prince-bishops, which is home to the Diözesanmuseum with an impressive collection of cribs and other treasures.
Venue Piazza Duomo/Domplatz (Cathedral Square)
Open from 26th Nov 2021 to 6th Jan 2022 (25th Dec. closed)
Merano: Sensual Delights and Relaxation
The fashionable spa town of Merano has style and its own leisurely rhythm, which is impressively evident with its Christmas market during the festive season. As you stroll along the Kurpromenade, you can hear the waters of the Passer river and smell the enchanting aroma of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. You simply have to stop and marvel at the wide range of beautiful regional hand-crafted products. And there are so many ways to escape the hustle and bustle. You can join an atmospheric torch-lit city tour, explore the city on one of the well-kept walking trails or relax in the modern thermal baths. Children can let off steam at the ice rink on the Thermenplatz square or forget all about the time as they enjoy the varied programme in Goldys Häuschen on the Pfarrplatz square. There's also much for art lovers to enjoy at the Kunst Meran museum, the Palais Mamming and the Landesfürstliche Burg. And those who love to wander further afield will find lots of small but rather splendid Christmas markets around Merano.
Venue : City Centre Open from 26th Nov 2021 to 6th Jan 2022 (25th Dec. closed)
VIPITENO/STERZING: LIVING TRADITIONS
Vipiteno, South Tyrol's northernmost and highest-lying city, hosts an irresistible Christmas market with an enchanting festive atmosphere only to be found in the heart of the Alps. In the time leading up to Christmas, the beautifully floodlit 15th-century Zwölferturm tower houses a crib exhibition and rises majestically over the picturesque Stadtplatz square, where wooden huts with a wide range of handmade regional and traditional products make shopping and tasting an unforgettable pleasure. Colourful facades decorated with oriel windows give the pedestrian zone featuring many attractive shops its typical character and testify to Vipiteno's past as a major mining and trading city. The region boasts a mining history dating back over 800 years and exciting special tours through the Ridnaun-Schneeberg Mining World bring this period vividly to life. From Vipiteno's pedestrian zone, winter sports fans have just a five-minute walk to the Rosskopf valley station. This not only offers lots of fun on a wide range of ski slopes, but also the longest floodlit and artificially snowed sledging trail in Italy.
Venue Piazza città/Stadtplatz (Town Square)
Open from 26th Nov 2021 to 6th Jan 2022 (25th Dec. closed)
Brunico/Bruneck: handicrafts and tradition
The city of Brunico, located in the heart of the Pustertal valley, is a beguiling and natural fusion of alpine tradition, enthusiasm for mountains and nature, and of course an openness to innovation. The city's intense vibrancy is truly tangible at its Christmas market by the Graben and in the Tschurtschenthaler Park. On those cold winter days and nights, the wooden huts offer a wonderful range of woven and knitted fabrics, teas and schnapps made from organic herbs and a large selection of high-quality regional products which you can give as a present or enjoy yourself. Children can try their hand at ice skating on the town hall square, with adults free to go window shopping through the Old Town and delight in its appealing boutiques. There's the same vibrant atmosphere in the upper town around Mary's Column, and the Palais Sternbach has interesting exhibitions of new and old craftsmanship and handicraft demonstrations. It's also worth your while taking the short walk to the Schlossberg: the medieval Schloss Bruneck castle houses the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa, and the Bergfried offers wonderful views of the city, the mountains and the Kronplatz ski area.
Venue Via Bastioni, Parco Tschurtschenthaler and at “Oberstadt”
Open from 26th Nov 2021 to 6th Jan 2022 (closed 25th Dec.)
TRENTINO
TRENTO
The Trento Christmas Market in Piazza Fiera is one of the most famous festive markets of the region. The market also extends to Piazza Cesare Battisti with a great number of stalls and mini-chalets offering a wide selection of Trentino's many excellent foods, wines and crafts.
Open:202 November 2021 – 9 January 2022 (closed 25 Dec)
ARCO, Lake Garda
It is the time of lights, of colours and Christmas flavours, mulled wine and Christmas bakery. Forty market booths, spread all over the centre of Arco, offer Christmas tree decorations, ideas regarding Christmas presents, handicraft products and local delicacies. Various events taking place in the evenings complete the offer of the Arco Christmas Market.
A ride on the back of the camel Ali or a little pony will make children's eyes sparkle. Moreover there are crafting workshops, a parade with Santa Claus who walks across the roads together with his reindeer, as well as a ride with one of the colourful little trains driving through Arco.
Open: 24 November 2021- 6 January 2022. Historic centre of Hapsburg Arco
ROVERETO
Little wooden houses, smell of resins, fresh air, starred sky and a dust of snow, will take you into the magic atmosphere of Christmas. Walking across the streets you will find different items: artistic handcrafts, clothing, sweets, typical food and wines in the whole historical centre between palaces, squares and museums.
Open 22th Nov 2021 – 6th January 2022 Historic Centre of Rovereto.
LEVICO TERME
The fairytale-like Habsburgs Park of Levico, every year hosts a large number of market booths. The Austrian tradition reflects former times, when the Habsburgs have chosen Levico as their summer domicile. Especially when it snows or if the landscape is snow-covered, this park changes into a fairytale-like area: some 30 market booths are spread all over this park between the huge trees and it really seems to be a winter wonderland. Local handicraft products, Christmas tree decorations, ideas for Christmas presents as well as local products such as honey, “Luganega”, a local meat product as well as boar ham. Music and entertainment with folk music groups, Elf Village for the kids and an exhibition of more than 100 cribs as well as concerts complete the wide offer of the Christmas Market.
Open: 20th November 2021 – 6th January 2022 (closed 25th Dec).
VENETO
ASIAGO
The gardens of Piazza Carli host the Asiago's Christmas Market, several huts will sell traditional decorations in glass, wood and ceramic, typical Asiago patisserie, natural products and the famous Asiago cheese. There will also be huts selling local dishes and mulled wine.
Open: 13th November 2021 – 9th January 2022 (in November and the beginning of December they would be open only on weekends)
VERONA
Verona hosts each year a Nuremberg Christmas Market in the central Piazza dei Signori. The German styled market will have all the traditional huts, elegantly illuminated and decorated selling typical food, handicrafts, Christmas tree decorations, cribs and serving specialities such as mulled wine, Stollen and Lebkuchen cakes, bratwurst and more.
Open: 12th November 2021 – 26th December 2021
BASSANO DEL GRAPPA
At the Christmas market in Bassano del Grappa we will be able to admire beautiful gift ideas, original Christmas decorations and typical products of the local cuisine. You can also find many products from all over Italy, wooden objects, fabric objects and curiosities about Italian craftsmanship.
Piazzotto Montevecchio will host the Carousel of Wooden Horses and Santa's House, animated by elves and by the white-bearded grandfather, will be located in Piazza della Libertà. Children will be able to hand over their letters and enjoy a ride on the Lilliputzian Train that will take visitors along the streets of the centre.
The ecological skating rink is a news of this year and from mid-December until the Epiphany will turn the ancient Carousel of Horses in Wood. On January 6, at the end of the Christmas events, the Epiphany Festival will take place.
The wooden chalets of the “Christmas Market” are open from the 27th of November to the 26th of December.
LAZISE
At the end of November the evocative Christmas market returns in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and on the Lungolago Marconi: more than 100 exhibitors located in the central square will make you experience the magical Christmas atmosphere and they will exhibit typical products, local crafts and gastronomy
All will be accompanied by Christmas melodies, most popular artistic nativity scenes in Veneto in the Church of San Nicolò, creative workshop, traditional games and special food/wine tastings. There will be also a carriage driven by Santa Claus to take children on a wonderful ride around the city
Open: 27th- 28th Nov. ; 4th -5th – 11th -12th -18th- 19th Dec. and from 24th Dec. 2021 to 9th Jan. 2022
PADUA
In Padua, the Venetian city capital of fourteenth-century painting, you can breathe a Christmas atmosphere thanks to the traditional market “the Christmas Fair".
The Christmas markets with over 140 quality stands (food and not only) are located in the streets of the centre, where you can find original ideas for gifts and enjoy hot chocolate, mulled wine and lots of sweets. In Eremitani Square there is the Santa Claus Factory, an extraordinary place where all children can have fun climbing on a splendid vintage carousel with its elegant white horses, ice skating in an incredible 350 square meter rink, and meet Santa Christmas in his home.
Open from 26th November 2021 – 09th Jan. 2022
AOSTA VALLEY
AOSTA
The successful recipe of the “Marché Vert Noël”, one of the most known Christmas markets of the Alps, is explained by the location. A coloured alpine village surrounded by music and lights, with roads, squares, bridges, wooden chalets and a true fir forest, is recreated in the “heart” of Aosta. Visitors will be able to walk around the “streets” of the village searching for a gift or simply admiring the traditional handicrafts such as ceramics, wooden items, clothing accessory in wool, felt, leather and hemp fabric, Christmas decorations and typical gastronomic products.
Even this year, the colourful and suggestive scenery of the Christmas markets in the City of Aosta will take place throughout the Christmas holidays from November 20th 2021 to 6 January 2022 (opens at 2 pm on 25 Dec. and 1 Jan.)
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA
TRIESTE
In Trieste you can experience the old charm of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in its Christmas Market in Piazza Sant'Antonio and surrounding streets: typical Trieste foods and wines, Christmas decorations, artificial snow, songs and music to accompany the visitor during the festive season. Open: 7th Dec. 2021 to 02nd Jan. 2022.
SAURIS
The Christmas Market in Sauris re-lives each year the tradition of this delightful mountain village. Along the narrow streets and the quaint squares Father Christmas and wooden hut selling festive food and wine, toys and decoration will animate the atmosphere. Not to be missed is the opportunity to discover the old Sauris on a horse-drawn carriage.
Open: 4th -5th -8th December 2021
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITIES
Christmas is a well loved tradition all over Italy and traditional Christmas markets and fairs can be found all over the peninsula in the most important cities.
BOLOGNA
Fiera di Santa Lucia
Portico of Chiesa dei Servi in Strada Maggiore
The Santa Lucia market takes place at Portico dei Servi at the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi in the heart of the centre of Bologna. In front of the church building there is a airy space surrounded by porticoes of tall marble columns.
This traditional Fair dedicated to Christmas, stalls full of decorations for the Xmas tree, the nativity crib, food and wine and other delicacies.
Open: 20 November 2021 to 6 Jan. 2022
VENICE
Christmas fairs in various piazzas (campo) in Venice: Campo S.Bartolomeo, Campo San Salvador, Campo San Luca, Campo Manin, Strada Nuova (where you can find the “Venice Christmas Fair”). You can also find a Christmas Market in Mestre with ice rink in Piazza Ferretto. Another ice rink is located in Venice in Piazza San Polo.
On the Island of Murano you can find “Christmas of Glass” during the month of December until 24th Dec. 2021, with hand-crafted baubles and the Tunnel of Lights, a spectacular glasswork regatta.
FLORENCE
Mercato Tedesco di Natale (German Christmas Market)
Piazza Santa Croce
This Christmas Market is inspired by the tradition of the German city of Heidelberg, wooden huts and stalls selling Italian and German delicacies, decorations, handicrafts.
Open: 20 November - 19 December 2021
NAPLES
Nativity Cribs in Via S. Gregorio Armeno
This narrow street is famous all over the world for its handcrafted Nativity Crib figurines, from the traditional ones to the most sophisticated, it buzzes at Christmas time with Neapolitans and tourists alike.
In addition, the National Railway Museum of Pietrarsa will transform into the city of Christmas, by hosting the Naples Christmas Markets, a great event to see, experience and taste.
The entire museum area, which extends over an area of about 36,000 square meters, is made up of seven nineteenth-century pavilions overlooking the Gulf of Naples, and inside them is kept a collection of about 55 vehicles including steam locomotives, carriages and relics railway,
The charm of the wooden houses, the melodies of street artists and street bands, the lights and colors of Christmas, the flavors and aromas of the food area with the presence of the main producers of excellence in Campania food and wine, will experience a journey for visitors unique between imagination and reality. Open from 27th Nov 2021 to 30th Dec. 2021
MILAN
The market in piazza Duomo is the largest Christmas market in the city: it hosts over 60 wooden chalets that sell traditional Christmas gifts and handicrafts, as well as a wide range of local food delicacies. One of the fundamental moments is the lighting of the Christmas tree at the centre of the Square
Open from 26th Nov. 2021 to 06th Jan. 2022
Il villaggio delle meraviglie
Giardini Indro Montanelli, entry from Corso Venezia.
Christmas market and other seasonal activities for adults and children takes place in these gardens in the centre of Milan, with a skating rink, Santa's House and shows with various performance artists throughout the festive season.
Open: 14th Nov. 2021 – 6th January 2022
Milan also hosts every year the “Oh Bej Oh Bej” fair during the celebrations of its Patron Saint, Saint Ambrose, in the area near the Sforza Castle. It is a very traditional market fair with typical Milanese artisan food, wines and other products.
Open 04th Dec- 08th Dec, 2021
NB: information is correct at time of publication
Stefania Gatta
Press and Communications
Italian National Tourist Board
