Christmas markets
The winter festivities would not be the same without Christmas markets that are very popular in Italy. Today we are taking you, dear readers, in a very special journey from the north to the south of the country, in order to discover not only beautiful but also very special and famous markets.
We are starting our trip in Trentino-Alto Adige, one of the best regions for Christmas markets where you can buy everything from tacky items to beautiful local handcrafts. Trento’s market, starting on 24th November and ending on 24th December, is considered one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Italy. Settled in Piazza Fiera, it includes more than 60 traditional wooden huts selling decorations, different crafts and typical culinary specialties such as Strudel or Polenta agli Strauben. On the other side, in Piazza Duomo , people can enjoy a large nativity scene.
Bolzano, also in Trentino-Alto Adige, holds a very popular daily Christmas market in the Alps - the Christkindlmarkt - going from the end of November through December 23 rd and selling crafts and decorations in the historic center. The Christmas market offers traditional handcrafted items made of wood, glass and clay, as well as Christmas decorations and seasonal sweetmeats.
In the beautiful settings of the Garda Lake there is a typical Christmas market in Arco where you can buy interesting local products, decorations and presents, such as cribs, candles, Tyrolean slippers, alpaca sweaters, scarves, gloves and hats, blown glass angels, wooden flowers and lanterns. Not less important is the excellent local cuisine, very much appreciated by the tourists who go crazy for mulled apple wine, roasted chestnuts and other local specialties, such as cheese, honey and jams.
In the city of Verona there is a huge Christmas market, containing over 300 stalls and tables, and offering crafts, Christmas gifts and local sweets and food. It starts in the second week of November and closes on Santa Lucia Day. Moreover, every year the Christmas is celebrated with numerous city events called VeroNatale. For the occasion Verona gets illuminated with lights, and the citizens and visitors enjoy nativity scenes from all over the world that are exhibited inside the underground passageways of the Roman Arena.
Moving to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, there is the traditional Christmas market of Pordenone, opened on 1st December and ends on 24th, waiting to be discovered. Settled in the main square, where there is also a giant Christmas tree, it gives you the possibility to taste and buy local products, crafts and presents. You can also admire a nativity scene of life-size, hand-carved wooden statue shown in the loggia of the Palazzo Municipale, and participate in various music events and concerts.
In Lombardia, Milan's Christmas Market is known for the 300 stalls selling quality gift items, antiques, art and gourmet specialties such as oils, vinegars and wines, not to mention a vast selection of cheese, salamis, chocolates and candy. It starts in Early December and ends on 6th January. There are also numerous seasonal activities appreciated by the adults and children that take place in the Indro Montanelli Gardens in the city centre, such as ice-skating and performances of various artists.
Tuscany is famous for the German Christmas Market in Florence, inspired by the traditional Heidelberg market, which is held in Piazza Santa Croce from 16th November until 16th December. It is made of approximately 55 wooden huts where not only Italian, but also other European operators, sell specialties, handcrafts and decorations, presents coming from their native countries. For the first time this year there are also representatives from a Belarus monastery who are selling their self-made Christmas handcrafts.
©2013 Emina Ristovic; The Italian Heritage Magazine
We are starting our trip in Trentino-Alto Adige, one of the best regions for Christmas markets where you can buy everything from tacky items to beautiful local handcrafts. Trento’s market, starting on 24th November and ending on 24th December, is considered one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Italy. Settled in Piazza Fiera, it includes more than 60 traditional wooden huts selling decorations, different crafts and typical culinary specialties such as Strudel or Polenta agli Strauben. On the other side, in Piazza Duomo , people can enjoy a large nativity scene.
Bolzano, also in Trentino-Alto Adige, holds a very popular daily Christmas market in the Alps - the Christkindlmarkt - going from the end of November through December 23 rd and selling crafts and decorations in the historic center. The Christmas market offers traditional handcrafted items made of wood, glass and clay, as well as Christmas decorations and seasonal sweetmeats.
In the beautiful settings of the Garda Lake there is a typical Christmas market in Arco where you can buy interesting local products, decorations and presents, such as cribs, candles, Tyrolean slippers, alpaca sweaters, scarves, gloves and hats, blown glass angels, wooden flowers and lanterns. Not less important is the excellent local cuisine, very much appreciated by the tourists who go crazy for mulled apple wine, roasted chestnuts and other local specialties, such as cheese, honey and jams.
In the city of Verona there is a huge Christmas market, containing over 300 stalls and tables, and offering crafts, Christmas gifts and local sweets and food. It starts in the second week of November and closes on Santa Lucia Day. Moreover, every year the Christmas is celebrated with numerous city events called VeroNatale. For the occasion Verona gets illuminated with lights, and the citizens and visitors enjoy nativity scenes from all over the world that are exhibited inside the underground passageways of the Roman Arena.
Moving to the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, there is the traditional Christmas market of Pordenone, opened on 1st December and ends on 24th, waiting to be discovered. Settled in the main square, where there is also a giant Christmas tree, it gives you the possibility to taste and buy local products, crafts and presents. You can also admire a nativity scene of life-size, hand-carved wooden statue shown in the loggia of the Palazzo Municipale, and participate in various music events and concerts.
In Lombardia, Milan's Christmas Market is known for the 300 stalls selling quality gift items, antiques, art and gourmet specialties such as oils, vinegars and wines, not to mention a vast selection of cheese, salamis, chocolates and candy. It starts in Early December and ends on 6th January. There are also numerous seasonal activities appreciated by the adults and children that take place in the Indro Montanelli Gardens in the city centre, such as ice-skating and performances of various artists.
Tuscany is famous for the German Christmas Market in Florence, inspired by the traditional Heidelberg market, which is held in Piazza Santa Croce from 16th November until 16th December. It is made of approximately 55 wooden huts where not only Italian, but also other European operators, sell specialties, handcrafts and decorations, presents coming from their native countries. For the first time this year there are also representatives from a Belarus monastery who are selling their self-made Christmas handcrafts.
©2013 Emina Ristovic; The Italian Heritage Magazine