The Most Beautiful Christmas Markets of 2023
Creative Travel Writings
By Annalucia Scotto Di Clemente | Edited by Bronte Delmonico
Beginning in the enchanting Trentino-Alto Adige, the epitome of traditional Christmas markets replete with charming wooden stalls, artisanal gifts, and delectable Tyrolean gastronomic delights, to the renowned and enduring Spaccanapoli market in Campania – the most celebrated in Italy, lasting throughout the entire year. The journey continues to Sicily, where Catalina unveils a veritable “city within a city,” transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Traversing picturesque villages and towns in Tuscany, Umbria, and various regions across Italy, discover the locales and dates where the most exquisite Christmas markets will unfold. Each market boasts its distinctive products, atmospheres, and fragrances, accompanied by a plethora of captivating side events.
Photo by Georgie Devlin
Christmas market in Bolzano, from 24 December 2023 to 6 January 2024
In Bolzano, the birthplace of the first Christmas market in Italy, on Nov.23 at 5 p.m. the 1,300 lights of the large Tree of Desires (20 meters high) in Piazza Walther illuminate the city and officially open the doors of the traditional wooden houses of the Christkindlmarkt.
Marking its 32nd anniversary, a myriad of festive events awaits both the young and the young at heart, spanning art, music, culture, and games. The enchantment of Christmas permeates the entire city, with Alcide Berloffa Park transforming into the Christmas Park, adorning 32 charming stalls and the iconic Christmas Star. Palau’s Campofranco’s courtyard takes centre stage with a monumental Ginkgo biloba, and every Wednesday, children can partake in a workshop from 15:00 to 17:00 crafting small Christmas angels to bring home.
Admits the cloister of the Dominicans and the Duomo, a melange of musical events awaits, accompanied by the ever-popular electric train shuttling from Piazza Walther to Piazza Gries and back. Piazza Della Mostra hosts the THUN Mountain Chalet, aglow with vibrant lights and adorned with meticulously hand-decorated ceramic creations – a visual feast for all.
Piazza Walther, Bolzano – Photo by Michele Mariani
Gourmands cannot miss the Wine Lounge, which offers a selection of wines including Santa Maddalena and Lagrein, sparkling wines from Südtirol, as well as a stand dedicated to grappa and spirits at Berloffa Park.
Palazzo Mercantile will host the eighth edition of Un Natale di Libri and the Angelus Loci project will take place in four parts of the city, with site-specific installations by local artists, each of which has chosen different materials and shapes to represent his “angel of the place.”
As if there wasn’t enough to look forward to already, every Saturday at 11 a.m., BZ Heartbeat presents the ice show The Nutcracker, in collaboration with Bolzano On Ice, in the patinoire set up in the Town Hall square.
Christmas market in Arezzo from 18 November 2023 to 7 January 2024
Arezzo City of Christmas, is the name given to the awaited event that will dress the historic center of Arezzo.
Every weekend promises a rendezvous with alluring attractions and an evocative trail of luminous installations illuminating architectural marvels and historical buildings. Adding to the excitement is the debut of the Park of Wonders in Prato, a sprawling green expanse with a panoramic view of the city. This venue will play host to themed events, traditional markets, a planetarium, and the iconic Ferris wheel.
A groundbreaking addition this year is one of Italy’s largest light installations, gracing the historic garden with a spectacle of over 640 thousand LED lights. Spanning eight thousand square meters, this mesmerizing display not only offers entrancing plays of light but also prioritizes low energy impact, symbolizing a harmonious blend of innovation and sustainability.
Also, in Prato, inside the ancient Medici Fortress – renamed for the occasion Fortezza delle Meraviglie – will be set up a village of the Elves, with themed rooms and stalls offering local delicacies.
In Piazza Grande, until Jan. 7, the Christmas markets return and you can breathe the atmosphere of the Tyrolean Village while, for children, the appointment with the House of Santa Claus.
Original cribs will be set up in the churches of Arezzo while Piazza San Jacopo and Piazza Risorgimento will host a traditional market characterized by small wooden houses that will offer the typical atmosphere of a Christmas village. There will also be several other special attractions and side events dedicated to the theme of “wonder.”
Christmas Market Christmas Town – Exhibition Centre Le Ciminiere in Catania – from 8 to 30 December
Catania comes alive with the festive spirit, adorned in a plendid array of lights and colors for Christmas. Breaking new ground this year, the Christmas City welcomes all into its spellbinding embrace – the inaugural themed park of the holiday season, a dazzling “city within a city” poised to captivate both young and old.
Within the Christmas Town, a tapestry of attractions unfolds. An ice rink beckons, alongside play areas curated by Lego, Disney Princesses, Sylvanian Families, and Peg Perego. A planetarium awaits, offering a celestial journey narrating the tale of the Bethlehem star, unraveling the mysteries and secrets of the Christmas comet.
The festive ambiance extends to markets, gastronomic delights, animated reindeer that speak, parades, and spectacular shows. Cinematic delights find a place too, with a dedicated space screening timeless films dedicated to Christmas. Over 150 animators, including actors and musicians, weave the magic around Santa Claus’s court, granting a glimpse into his above and his global expedition on the longest night of the year.
Photo by Jefferson Lima
Christmas has the ability to make every place special and ready to welcome it. No matter where you go, explore and marvel! Let the Christmas spirit enter you through your inner child and let yourself be transformed by this atmosphere of love and joy that should always be part of our lives.
Dear Matthew readers, I wish you a Merry Christmas and that you can spend it in the best way possible.
thematthewrome.com 