ALPINE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN ITALY

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, festive food and wine, gift ideas, decorations and local handicraft.  Here are 3 to get you feeling festive.

ALTO ADIGE (South Tyrol/ Süd Tirol)

www.suedtirol.info 

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. Children will be enchanted by the varied programme at the children’s Christmas market on the Musterplatz square, whilst the grownups can relax over a glass of mulled wine in the atmospheric courtyard of the Palais Campofranco. Another 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.

Venue Piazza Walther/Waltherplatz Open from 23 Nov. 2017 to 6 Jan. 2018 (25 Dec. closed)

TRENTINO
www.visittrentino.it
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:19 November 2017 – 6 January 2018 (closed 25 Dec)

AOSTA VALLEY
www.lovevda.it
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 25 2017 to 7 January 2018 (opens at 4pm on 25 Dec.)