Danish By now there are just sixteen days left until Julen and between one weekend and another, most of you are already planning your weekends across Italy to breathe in a bit of the Christmas air in different cities and markets. Christmas Markets in Italy offer some of the most enchanting holiday experiences in Europe, combining tradition, local craftsmanship, and festive atmosphere.
Italy has a great tradition in this sense, because it’s a moment to finally see some places with different eyes, buy some typical food to gift to someone and in general, see the different cities finally light up with the lights, the classic big tree in the middle of the square and in several cases even a live nativity scene performed by people.
We’ve selected what for us are the must-see places across Italy! 🎄
Northern Italy
Bolzano, Merano and Trento
Den Christmas markets of Bolzano are probably some of the largest and most beautiful all over Italy. Being in the far north, not that far away from Østrig, immersed in the mountains, you can really feel the Christmas season (and maybe take the opportunity to go skiing in the area).
They started a few days ago (on the 28th of November) and will be held until the 6th of January. You’ll find more than 100 exhibitors, offering food, typical drinks and handmade items.
And if you are in the area, on the same dates, just a 30-minute drive away there are also the Christmas markets of Merano. It’s a smaller town, famous for its thermal baths. Alternatively, there’s also Trento’s market nearby (around 50 minutes away). But the most interesting part of these markets in Trentino Alto Adige is the Krampus parade, basically demonic creatures that are typical figures of Alpine folklore. That’s definitely something to see once in a lifetime!
Aosta
Aosta is one of those towns that few expats mention while talking about Italy, but for me it is absolutely a must, especially for what’s in the surroundings. The Christmas market started more than a week ago and lasts until the 6th of January. There are plenty of exhibitors and a big ice skating rink in the middle of the square. And if you’re up for going skiing or visiting the kids’ snow playground, there are some ski lifts that start from the center and go to Pila, a beautiful tourist resort immersed in woods, at 1,800 meters above sea level.
But what makes Valle d’Aosta special is that it is full of villages and medieval castles, most of which were also used as settings for several movies – from the Fenis Castle to the Forte di Bard, this area is absolutely stunning.
Padua
Padua is a beautiful university city in Veneto, just 40 minutes’ drive away from Venedig. In this period, until the 6th of January there are several exhibitors around the town, as well as Santa Claus village (specifically in Piazza Eremitani), where children can bring their letters. If you come, be sure to try the iconic mint coffee at Caffè Pedrocchi, by now an institution.
This is a really strategic area. Beyond Venice there’s plenty to see: from the thermal baths in Montegrotto Terme to Vicenza (which organizes some free creative labs for children inside the Musei Civici, so parents can walk around the city in the meantime), Verona, which is absolutely romantic for couples, and Treviso and the surrounding areas, which are full of wineries – all of this within less than an hour’s drive.
Central Italy
Gubbio and Assisi
Gubbio is a small medieval village in Umbria that nevertheless hosts what the Guinness World Record sanctioned as one of the biggest Christmas trees all over the world (around 750m high x 450m wide). On the 13th and 14th of December, and then from the 20th to the 6th of January, it hosts several Christmas markets in the central Piazza Quaranta Martiri.
This is a great place if you have børn, as they also organize the Gubbio Express, the tourist train that crosses the town, together with the ice skating rink, the carousel and Colle Eletto cable car, where you can have a wonderful view of the landscape on top of the World’s Largest Christmas Tree.
And if you want to see something more, just 48 minutes’ drive away by car there’s Assisi, a city that definitely deserves a spot if you’re a fan of the nativity scene. Indeed, this is the place where St. Francis was born, so there are lots of representations of the nativity scene, so much so that every year the town rewards the best one of the year.
Arezzo og Montepulciano
If you’re in Tuscany, you can’t miss Arezzo’s Christmas markets, which started already on the 15th of November but last until the 6th of January. The town lights up, but most of all hosts the Santa Claus village (until December 24) with games, art exhibitions and even the Planetarium. It comes with a cost: €10 for adults and children, €8 for residents and it’s free for children up to 3 years old – tickets can be purchased either online or on site.
But its uniqueness is that it hosts the big light show that illuminates the whole city.
And if you’re up to exploring the surrounding areas, 50 minutes’ drive away there’s also Montepulciano Christmas market, definitely smaller but still super authentic if you want to see the town from another perspective.
Gradara
Gradara is a very little village in Le Marche, surrounded by medieval walls. Until the 6th of January, it will host a lot of events, from the parade with traditional clothes to jugglers, dances, markets and the arrival of La Befana (January 6), a folk figure that brings sweets to good children and coal to “bad” children.
It’s definitely a good way to discover Christmas in a unique village, full of history.
Syditalien
Matera
Matera, in Basilicata, is another “unique” in Italy. Even though most people visit it during summer, as it’s super close to Puglia, this is an occasion to see it completely illuminated. The town is known for being built literally on the rocks; unsurprisingly, it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Think that in the past, for years the inhabitants lived in those cave-houses, sharing the spaces where they lived and cooked with animals.
Here, besides the Christmas markets, den puppet theatre and different street artists, there will be the “Presepe vivente nei sassi” which is the live nativity scene inside the rocks. But we won’t spoil more as it’s 100% worth a visit!
Salerno
Salerno is a beautiful city in Campania on the coast, just 50 minutes’ drive away from Napoli. During this period, there will be different markets around the city, as well as artisan workshops and the Santa Claus Village.
But the strong point of this market is the lights: in fact, there will be the Luci d’Artista, a series of light displays around the town that will feature around 233 lights, and in the Piazza Sedile del Campo there will be a three-dimensional fairy that will highlight the surrounding buildings.
Alberobello
Our last suggestion for Southern Italy is Alberobello, a little town in Puglia, which is famous for the trulli, ancient peasant dwellings typical of the area. Indeed, this is exactly its uniqueness – it seems to literally be in a magical world, where each trullo is illuminated, together with the streets, with lights from artists all over the world.
Plus, here as well there will be the live nativity scene, and for believers, the main church, which is a trullo as well, will open its doors for the sacred Christmas Mass.
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