Due to its proximity to Austria and Germany, the Trentino-Alto Adige region in Northern Italy has a long tradition of Christmas markets and the atmosphere in the city squares where they are held is enchanting. All over the South Tyrol, and especially in towns like Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Brunico and Vipiteno, there is a wonderfully festive atmosphere everywhere, with Christmas stalls selling everything from local food specialties, to woven items, wooden toys, traditional ceramic ware, Christmas decorations and candles.
Most of the Italian big cities, like Rome, Milan, Florence, Bologna and Naples, also have their Christmas market. Naples is particularly famous for its many workshops selling presepe (crib) figurines. Here is our selection of some of the best Italian Christmas markets.
1. Rome
Rome has one of the most enchanting Christmas markets of Italy, hosted in a beautiful setting among the fountains of Piazza Navona. There is also the more characteristic Christmas market at Piazza dei Re di Roma with stalls selling gifts and typical Christmas food, similar to the tradition of Advent markets in Germany and Austria.
2. Christkindlmarkt of Bolzano
One of the most famous and most popular Christmas markets of the Italian Alps, with about 80 exhibitors and a special market in Piazza della Mostra dedicated to the younger visitors. Concerts are held under the Christmas tree on Saturdays and Sundays.
3. Mercatino di Natale di Trento
Trento’s is considered by many one of the best Christmas markets, not only for the offer, but also because it is hosted in such a beautiful setting. More than 65 traditional wooden huts selling a variety of Christmas goods are set up in the town’s center, offering typical Christmas market items and some of the Trentine culinary specialities, such as Strudel or Tortel di patate, or Polenta agli Strauben. A large Nativity Scene is created in Piazza Duomo.
4. Mercatino di Natale of Merano
Merano (Meran) hosts one of the beautiful Christmas markets of the ‘Road of the five stars’ (Percorso delle cinque stelle), including also Vipiteno (Sterzing), Bressanone (Brixen), Brunico (Bruneck) and Bolzano (Bozen). Among the many activities for children organized in Merano, you have The “Little Star Club”, which welcomes children aged three to eight. There they can play games in the biscuit bakery, while their parents enjoy the Christmas shopping. There is a big ice skating court in ‘piazza delle Terme’, right in front of Merano’s famous thermal baths and two mini-trains circling around the Christmas Market. Children aged 6 to 16 will have the opportunity to create their own Ritter Sport chocolate bar and experiment with various flavor combinations and fancy wrappings at the Ritter Sport Chocolate Factory, which will be in Piazza della Rena from December 8th until the 15th. Natale a Merano will be open every day from 9:00 to 17:00 from November, 25th 2011 to January, 6th 2012, from 10:30 – 19:30 on weekdays and 9-20 on week-ends, and 10-:30-16:00 on Dec 24 and 31 and closed on the 25th.
5. Naples
Naples holds a traditional Christmas market near Via San Gregorio Armeno, also known as “Crib Street” (Via del Presepe) because of its many little workshops specialized in the manufacture of cribs. In December the street becomes a huge presepe (crib) market, selling thousands of nativity scene statuettes, but also figurines representing various trades as well as caricatures of celebrities, with an incredible offer of accessories for decorating and animating cribs, making it possible to build an entire, lively, village around the crib.
6. Candelara Candle Light Festival
Candele a Candelara, the Candelara candle light festival, is the first Italian Christmas market dedicated to candles. It is a unique event taking place in Candelara, a medieval village in the hinterland of Pesaro, during which the candle is being celebrated not just as a decorative element, but also as an object of festivity. On that occasion all electric light are turned off for 15 minutes and the city is being lit by candles only. This unique celebration can be admired on Dec 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 at 17:30, 18:30 and 19:30.
7. Christmas market in Arco, Lake Garda
A typical Christmas market with local produce, Christmas decoration and Christmas presents, such as cribs, candles and natural products, Tyrolean slippers, alpaca sweaters, scarves, gloves and hats, blown glass angels, wooden flowers and lanterns.
You can treat your palate too with good food and wine, mulled apple wine, roasted chestnuts and local specialties, such as cheese, honey and jams.
For children there are wooden toys and board games as well as special treats like rides on Ali the camel.
On the opening day on December 8 the market is open till 9.30 p.m. There will also be fireworks at the Castle and an Advent calendar will transform the bastions and walls of the historic buildings.
8. Veronatale in Verona
Verona holds a huge Christmas Market with over 300 stalls and tables the second weekend of December through December 13, Santa Lucia Day.
Each year, Verona is celebrating Christmas with a series of events called VeroNatale. The city is illuminated with festive Christmas lights, nativity scenes from all over the world are exhibited inside the underground passageways of the Roman Arena, the squares welcome Christmas markets with crafts, Christmas gifts and local sweets and food.
Photo credits: Merano and Christmas decoration photos © Michele Campini, Verona © Argalis, Naples presepe accessories © walteriannaccone