The Best Christmas Market in Italy
Christmastime in Italy is magical to say the least. But in the north of Italy, near the border of Austria in the region of Sudtirol, you’ll find the best Christmas market.
In the charming village of Bolzano nestled along the edge of the Dolomites, you will find Italy’s largest Christmas Market. Each year from mid November until January 6th, the main piazza in the historic center transforms into a Christmas village filled with pop-up shops selling holiday treats, mulled wines, handcrafted treasures, and more.
You’ll find the market filled with tourists and locals alike. Families gather to finish up Christmas shopping, sample local cuisine, watch a live performance of a play or music, pass by the nativity, or take a stroll under the twinkling lights.
Historical Things to Note
Bolzano is known as the “gateway to the Dolomites.” It is nestled in the valley just before the peaks of the Italian Alps begin to rise up along the border of Austria. And you can sense the vibe. It’s definitely Italian. Yet, there is influence from Austria. In fact, this part of Italy used to be Austria.
The region was annexed by Italy after World War 1. Mussolini influenced the area greatly with a heavy hand and Italianizing it. Although the Italian language is predominately spoken here, so is German, as it was the language spoken here for fourteen centuries. This part of Italy is a beautiful mix of alpine and mediterranean, both in its beauty and landscape as well as culture.
Locally Made and Produced
If you appreciate shopping local, you’ll love to know that the market only sells items that are produced or processed from this region of South Tyrol. This protects the artisans in this area who are dedicated to their trades and crafts and also protects market from being influenced by outsiders. It’s beautiful to walk this market and know that every item available is a part of this local heritage and culture.
You can sample local foods, treats, and drinks that are festive for the season. There are often little tables set up with heaters to get warm and enjoy a little snack. After a leisure stroll through the booths of artists, you can decide which lovely piece of artwork or handmade ornament you want to take home with you to remember your time at the market.
For the Kids
There are plenty of things for kids to do at this Christmas market. You’ll find Italian children running around enjoying the market with their family or visiting the presepe (nativity). Oftentimes, there will be live animals like donkeys, goats, and sheep near the nativity set up as a petting zoo. The eyes of children light up as they imagine what that first night of Christmas must of been like.
My children have enjoyed other things to do at the market like ride the ferris wheel high above the trees watching the lights in the valley, watching a play in the center stage of the market, ice skating at the rink set up for the holiday season, or enjoy a Nutella funnel cake. There is plenty of fun to be had for sure!
What I Love Most about this Italian Christmas Market
Perhaps what I love most about this market is like the many, many things I love about life in Italy. It doesn’t feel chaotic or rushed. Instead, it feels like a market lost in time. It feels like a magical setting where simple mundane things become magical in the season of Christmas. Nothing is hyper-commercialized. Instead, the market expresses an appreciation for local culture and slow living, savoring and relishing the moments of le feste.
A Few Tips and Advice
If you are ever in northern Italy this time of year, you should absolutely plan a stop in Bolzano so that you can experience this magical Christmas market.
Dress warm so that you can enjoy walking around without being too cold.
Try the Canederli: Italian bread dumplings made with speck, cheese, and bread. They are a local, traditional dish unique to this area.
Purchase an ornament to remember this experience each year as you decorate your tree.
Slow down and take in all that the experience has to offer.
Buon Natale, ragazzi!
xx Sommer
