Christmas Markets
in Italy 2018
Alpine Italy lights up for the Christmas season
with some of the most interesting
Christmas Markets on offer in Europe,
combining Mediterranean flavours
and German traditions.
Here is a selection listed by region.
with some of the most interesting
Christmas Markets on offer in Europe,
combining Mediterranean flavours
and German traditions.
Here is a selection listed by region.
ALTO ADIGE (South Tyrol/ Süd Tirol) www.suedtirol.info
Bolzano/Bozen: Alpine - Mediterranean Christmas
Bolzano hosts South Tyrol’s largest Christmas market. It’s held in the Waltherplatz square and the historical Old Town around the square is also decorated and very picturesque. Don’t miss the town hall square with its Christmas display of handicrafts, the Silbergasse street, the Kornplatz square with its charity market and the famous arches of traditional shops. The mix of the traditional of the Alps with an easy-going Mediterranean lifestyle. Sample the Zelten, a traditional fruitcake, with its destintive aroma of cinnamon and carnations.
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Piazza Walther/Waltherplatz
Open now until 6 Jan. 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Bressanone/Brixen: Art and History
The Bressanone Christmas market is held in Domplatz square, which features the cathedral, St. Michael’s Parish Church and the town hall. You will find lots of great ideas amongst the handmade
Christmas decorations and wood carvings on the stands. And a wide range of sweet and savoury South Tyrolean delicacies ranging from speck-flavoured dumplings with cabbage to Kaiserschmarrn, shredded pancakes.
Children will enjoy the historic steam carousel and all ages will love a gentle horse-drawn carriage ride through the Old Town of Bressanone. Afterwards you can warm yourself up with a mulled wine or hot apple juice and let Christmas work its magic. Or explore the Hofburg, the mighty former
residence of Bressanone’s prince-bishops, home to the Diözesan museum .
Piazza Duomo/Domplatz (Cathedral Square)
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Bolzano hosts South Tyrol’s largest Christmas market. It’s held in the Waltherplatz square and the historical Old Town around the square is also decorated and very picturesque. Don’t miss the town hall square with its Christmas display of handicrafts, the Silbergasse street, the Kornplatz square with its charity market and the famous arches of traditional shops. The mix of the traditional of the Alps with an easy-going Mediterranean lifestyle. Sample the Zelten, a traditional fruitcake, with its destintive aroma of cinnamon and carnations.
Piazza Walther/Waltherplatz
Open now until 6 Jan. 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Bressanone/Brixen: Art and History
The Bressanone Christmas market is held in Domplatz square, which features the cathedral, St. Michael’s Parish Church and the town hall. You will find lots of great ideas amongst the handmade
Christmas decorations and wood carvings on the stands. And a wide range of sweet and savoury South Tyrolean delicacies ranging from speck-flavoured dumplings with cabbage to Kaiserschmarrn, shredded pancakes.
Children will enjoy the historic steam carousel and all ages will love a gentle horse-drawn carriage ride through the Old Town of Bressanone. Afterwards you can warm yourself up with a mulled wine or hot apple juice and let Christmas work its magic. Or explore the Hofburg, the mighty former
residence of Bressanone’s prince-bishops, home to the Diözesan museum .
Piazza Duomo/Domplatz (Cathedral Square)
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Merano: Sensual delights and relaxation
The fashionable spa town of Merano has its own distinct Christmas Market. Stroll along the Kurpromenade, listen to the waters of the Passer river, smell the roasted chestnuts and
the mulled wine. There will be an atmospheric torch-lit city tour. Children will enjoy the ice rink on the Thermenplatz square and the fun programme in Goldys Häuschen on the Pfarrplatz square. Art lovers should visit the Kunst Meran museum, the Palais Mamming and the Landesfürstliche Burg.
City Centre
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
the mulled wine. There will be an atmospheric torch-lit city tour. Children will enjoy the ice rink on the Thermenplatz square and the fun programme in Goldys Häuschen on the Pfarrplatz square. Art lovers should visit the Kunst Meran museum, the Palais Mamming and the Landesfürstliche Burg.
City Centre
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Vipiteno/Sterzing: living traditions
Vipiteno is South Tyrol’s northernmost and highest-lying city and every year hosts a Christmas market surrounded by the beautifully floodlit 15th-century Zwölferturm tower over Stadtplatz square. Wooden huts with display a wide range of handmade regional and traditional products. This region has mining history dating back over 800 years and offers many tours through the Ridnaun-Schneeberg Mining World bringing this period vividly to life. From Vipiteno’s pedestrian zone, winter sports fans have just a five-minute walk to the Rosskopf valley station a widerange of ski slopes and the longest floodlit and artificially snowed sledging trail in Italy.
Venue Piazza città/Stadtplatz (Town Square)
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Venue Piazza città/Stadtplatz (Town Square)
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Brunico/Bruneck: handicrafts and tradition
Located in the heart of the Pustertal valley, the city of Brunico has its Christmas market by the Graben in theTschurtschenthaler Park. Wooden huts offer a range of woven and knitted fabrics, teas and schnapps made from organic herbs and a large selection of high-quality regional products. Children can try ice skating on the town hall square. In the upper town around Mary’s Column, and the Palais Sternbach there are exhibitions of new and old crafts with many handicraft demonstrations. Also worth your while, the short walk to the Schlossberg, the medieval Schloss Bruneck castle, the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa, and the Bergfried with wonderful views of the city, the mountains and the Kronplatz ski area.
Via Bastioni, Parco Tschurtschenthaler and at “Oberstadt”
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
Located in the heart of the Pustertal valley, the city of Brunico has its Christmas market by the Graben in theTschurtschenthaler Park. Wooden huts offer a range of woven and knitted fabrics, teas and schnapps made from organic herbs and a large selection of high-quality regional products. Children can try ice skating on the town hall square. In the upper town around Mary’s Column, and the Palais Sternbach there are exhibitions of new and old crafts with many handicraft demonstrations. Also worth your while, the short walk to the Schlossberg, the medieval Schloss Bruneck castle, the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa, and the Bergfried with wonderful views of the city, the mountains and the Kronplatz ski area.
Via Bastioni, Parco Tschurtschenthaler and at “Oberstadt”
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
TRENTINO www.visittrentino.it
Trento
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The market in Piazza Fiera is one of the most famous festive markets of the region. It 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.
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Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
www.mercatinodinatale.tn.it
The market in Piazza Fiera is one of the most famous festive markets of the region. It 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 now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
www.mercatinodinatale.tn.it
Arco, Lake Garda
Forty market booths, spread all over the centre of Arco, Christmas flavours, mulled wine, a Christmas bakery, tree decorations, presents, crafts. You can ride on the back of Ali the camel or a little pony that will make children’s eyes sparkle. There are craftworkshops, a parade with Santa Claus and his reindeer and some colourful little trains driving through Arco.
Historic centre of Hapsburg Arco
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day and 2 Jan.).
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.
![]()
Centre of Rovereto.
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
www.visitrovereto.it
Levico Terme
The fairytale-like Habsburgs Park of Levico, everyyear 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 now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
VENETO www.veneto.to
Cortina d’Ampezzo
In the shadow of the Tofane, the advent period takes on its traditional colours thanks to the Cortina Christmas Market, which brings lights, colour and a festive atmosphere to the main street, Corso Italia. The famous pedestrian street lined by renowned national and international shops, will be scattered with small wooden huts where artisans and local producers exhibit their products. All accompanied by mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and traditional sweets. Inside each of the characteristics wooden huts, a variety of seasonal merchandise, representing the crafts and
traditions of the area, will be exhibited and offered for sale. To complete the atmosphere, and to make
the browsing and shopping even more enjoyable, there will of course be music to fit the mood, in the form of all the most cherished and traditional Christmas songs.
Open: 1 December 2018 – 7 January 2019
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 now until 7 Jan 2019 (open from 10.30 on Christmas Day)
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.
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Open now until 26 December 2018 (closes at 5pm on 24 Dec and opens at 3pm on Christmas Day)
www.nataleinpiazza.it
Belluno
The Christmas Market of Belluno in the gardens of Piazza dei Martiri, one of the most beautiful squares of the city. Called Christmas Gardens, the market sells wool and wood handmade gifts.
There will be about twenty stands and many outdoor refreshment areas with mulled wine, sandwiches
and hot chocolate. On the weekend there will be entertainments of music, games and shows.
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Open: 2 – 24 December 2018
Aosta Valley www.lovevda.it
Aosta
The MarchéVert Noël is one of the most known of the Christmas markets of the Alps. An alpine village with music and lights, wooden chalets and a true fir forest in the heart of Aosta.Visitors will search the village streets for a gift or simply shop for traditional handicrafts, ceramics, wooden gifts, woolen clothing, felt, leather or hemp fabrics, decorations and local gastronomic wonders.
Open now until 6 January 2019 (opens at 4pm on on Christmas Day and New Year's day)
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA www.turismo.fvg.it
Trieste
Experience the old charm of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the Trieste Christmas Market in Piazza Sant’Antonio and surrounding streets. Discover typical Trieste foods and wines,
decorations, songs and music.
Open:8 to 26 December 2018.
Sauris
This delightful mountain village of narrow streets and the quaint squares has a Christmas market with Father Christmas and wooden hut selling festive food and wine, toys and decorations. And you can discover old Sauris on a horse-drawn carriage.
Open: 8-9 December 2018
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITIES
Christmas is a well loved tradition all over Italy
and traditional Christmas markets
arefound in many cities.
Bologna
The Santa Lucia market takes place at Portico dei Servi at the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi in the heart of Bologna. In front of the church there is a large space surrounded by porticoes of tall marble columns. This traditional fair has stalls full of decorations, nativity cribs, food, wine and delicacies.
Fiera di Santa Lucia Portico of Chiesa dei Servi in Strada Maggiore
Open now until 26 December 2018
Venice
Christmas fairs in various piazzas : 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 5
January 2019, with hand-crafted baubles and the Tunnel of Lights, a spectacular glasswork regatta.
Florence www.firenzeturismo.it
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Mercato Tedesco di Natale (German Christmas Market) Piazza Santa Croce
Inspired by the tradition of the German city of Heidelberg, there are wooden huts andstalls selling Italian and German delicacies, decorations, handicrafts.
Open now until 21 December 2018
Naples
Nativity Cribs in Via S. Gregorio Armeno
This narrow street is famous all over the world for its handcrafted Nativity Crib figurines.
Turin www.turismotorino.org
This traditional market returns with many new exhibitors with a wide range of gift items for Christmas, together with sample tastings of culinary delights from Piedmont producers and from other Italian regions.
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Open: now until 6 Jan 2019 in Piazza Castello.
Sogno di Natale is another market with a Father Christmas village open in the gardens of the Reggia
Venaria with an elf house, sleigh circuit and festive street food, open from now to Jan. 2019
Milan
Il villaggio delle meraviglie Giardini Indro Montanelli, entry from Corso Venezia.
Christmas market and other seasonal activities foradults and children in these gardens in the city centre , with a skating rink and shows throughout the festive season.
Open: 2 December 2018 – 7 January 2019
Milan also hosts every year the Oh Bej Oh Bej fair during the celebrations of its patron saint, Saint Ambrose, near the Sforza Castle. It is a very traditional market fair with typical Milanese artisan food, wines and other products.
Open 7-10 December 2018
Information above is courtesy of the Italian National Tourist Board
Historic centre of Hapsburg Arco
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day and 2 Jan.).
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.
Centre of Rovereto.
Open now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
www.visitrovereto.it
Levico Terme
The fairytale-like Habsburgs Park of Levico, everyyear 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 now until 6 Jan 2019 (closed on Christmas Day)
VENETO www.veneto.to
Cortina d’Ampezzo
In the shadow of the Tofane, the advent period takes on its traditional colours thanks to the Cortina Christmas Market, which brings lights, colour and a festive atmosphere to the main street, Corso Italia. The famous pedestrian street lined by renowned national and international shops, will be scattered with small wooden huts where artisans and local producers exhibit their products. All accompanied by mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and traditional sweets. Inside each of the characteristics wooden huts, a variety of seasonal merchandise, representing the crafts and
traditions of the area, will be exhibited and offered for sale. To complete the atmosphere, and to make
the browsing and shopping even more enjoyable, there will of course be music to fit the mood, in the form of all the most cherished and traditional Christmas songs.
Open: 1 December 2018 – 7 January 2019
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 now until 7 Jan 2019 (open from 10.30 on Christmas Day)
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 now until 26 December 2018 (closes at 5pm on 24 Dec and opens at 3pm on Christmas Day)
www.nataleinpiazza.it
Belluno
The Christmas Market of Belluno in the gardens of Piazza dei Martiri, one of the most beautiful squares of the city. Called Christmas Gardens, the market sells wool and wood handmade gifts.
There will be about twenty stands and many outdoor refreshment areas with mulled wine, sandwiches
and hot chocolate. On the weekend there will be entertainments of music, games and shows.
Open: 2 – 24 December 2018
Aosta Valley www.lovevda.it
Aosta
The MarchéVert Noël is one of the most known of the Christmas markets of the Alps. An alpine village with music and lights, wooden chalets and a true fir forest in the heart of Aosta.Visitors will search the village streets for a gift or simply shop for traditional handicrafts, ceramics, wooden gifts, woolen clothing, felt, leather or hemp fabrics, decorations and local gastronomic wonders.
Open now until 6 January 2019 (opens at 4pm on on Christmas Day and New Year's day)
FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA www.turismo.fvg.it
Trieste
Experience the old charm of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire at the Trieste Christmas Market in Piazza Sant’Antonio and surrounding streets. Discover typical Trieste foods and wines,
decorations, songs and music.
Open:8 to 26 December 2018.
Sauris
This delightful mountain village of narrow streets and the quaint squares has a Christmas market with Father Christmas and wooden hut selling festive food and wine, toys and decorations. And you can discover old Sauris on a horse-drawn carriage.
Open: 8-9 December 2018
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITIES
Christmas is a well loved tradition all over Italy
and traditional Christmas markets
arefound in many cities.
Bologna
The Santa Lucia market takes place at Portico dei Servi at the Church of Santa Maria dei Servi in the heart of Bologna. In front of the church there is a large space surrounded by porticoes of tall marble columns. This traditional fair has stalls full of decorations, nativity cribs, food, wine and delicacies.
Fiera di Santa Lucia Portico of Chiesa dei Servi in Strada Maggiore
Open now until 26 December 2018
Venice
Christmas fairs in various piazzas : 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 5
January 2019, with hand-crafted baubles and the Tunnel of Lights, a spectacular glasswork regatta.
Florence www.firenzeturismo.it
Mercato Tedesco di Natale (German Christmas Market) Piazza Santa Croce
Inspired by the tradition of the German city of Heidelberg, there are wooden huts andstalls selling Italian and German delicacies, decorations, handicrafts.
Open now until 21 December 2018
Naples
Nativity Cribs in Via S. Gregorio Armeno
This narrow street is famous all over the world for its handcrafted Nativity Crib figurines.
Turin www.turismotorino.org
This traditional market returns with many new exhibitors with a wide range of gift items for Christmas, together with sample tastings of culinary delights from Piedmont producers and from other Italian regions.
Open: now until 6 Jan 2019 in Piazza Castello.
Sogno di Natale is another market with a Father Christmas village open in the gardens of the Reggia
Venaria with an elf house, sleigh circuit and festive street food, open from now to Jan. 2019
Milan
Il villaggio delle meraviglie Giardini Indro Montanelli, entry from Corso Venezia.
Christmas market and other seasonal activities foradults and children in these gardens in the city centre , with a skating rink and shows throughout the festive season.
Open: 2 December 2018 – 7 January 2019
Milan also hosts every year the Oh Bej Oh Bej fair during the celebrations of its patron saint, Saint Ambrose, near the Sforza Castle. It is a very traditional market fair with typical Milanese artisan food, wines and other products.
Open 7-10 December 2018
Information above is courtesy of the Italian National Tourist Board