Quasi ogni paese dell’South Tyrol ha il suo Christmas market poichè partecipare al mistero dell’Advent e della nascità del Bambinello è un sentimento tradizionale molto radicato nella popolazione. Ogni giorno artigiani, musicisti, pasticcieri danno vita alla magia di piccoli villagi incantati, illuminati dalle luci natalizie e profumati dal vin brulè e dai dolcetti natalizi.
E’ proprio qui, nel Sud del Tirolo, che si scoprono le vere capitali italiane di questo annuale appuntamento: Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Brunico, Vipiteno e Campo Tures si animeranno e si trasformeranno in incantati paesi dei balocchi. Immersi in magiche atmosfere sfavillanti di mille luci e accompagnati da musiche suggestive, sarà divertente ricercare le più caratteristiche idee regalo e assaggiare i prodotti tipici e artigianali disseminati sulle variopinte bancarelle che affolleranno i centri storici.
Christmas Markets in South Tyrol
The Christmas markets have always been an expression of a typical Central European tradition that comes alive in South Tyrol to bring the warmth of Christmas into our homes through many small, simple, yet refined gift ideas. The historic centers where they take place fill with color and life, offering objects and decorations to adorn the Christmas tree and home, as well as many ideas for adults and children, for family or friends, and, why not, even for yourself.
Typical sweets from the refined South Tyrolean pastry shop are not missing, as well as local handcrafted items among which the precious wooden nativity scenes stand out, but also ceramics, decorated glass, lace, tablecloths, felt slippers, multicolored candles, and a thousand other original ideas to emphasize the warmth and friendship of this special moment. At some markets, it is also possible to find “branded” products from the Red Rooster, agricultural products of the highest quality. The Red Rooster brand, emblem of the Union of South Tyrolean Farmers and Direct Growers, guarantees absolute genuineness and the strictest controls.
And for ski lovers, the ski lifts of the best-known resorts are in operation: a reason to get in touch with the first snow and start a new ski season. The cities of the Markets invite you to live Christmas in a joyful atmosphere, to get to know and experience every day.
Bolzano Christmas Market
The Bolzano Christmas Market takes place in Piazza Walther and brings cheer since the last days of November: the wooden huts of the Christkindlmarkt become the heart of the city where you can choose Christmas gifts for relatives and friends, between a zelten (a typical Bolzano dessert) and a glass of mulled wine. Not far from here is the Enchanted Forest of Palais Campofranco and, in the Max Valier building, the Advent calendar is set up: every day behind the windows of the facade a surprise will be revealed. Between glances, you can enjoy homemade cookies, apple strudel, or the famous Zelten, a Christmas sweet symbol of Bolzano, accompanied by steaming mulled wine. A visit to the South Tyrol Archaeological Museum is a must where you can see Ötzi, the prehistoric man found in the Val Senales glacier, up close. And to give your holiday a fairy-tale touch, you can stay at the Zundlhof farm, located among the vineyards and ideal for those traveling by bus or train: it is only one and a half kilometers from the center.
Brunecker Weihnachtsmarkt
Der Brunecker Weihnachtsmarkt ist besonders der Musik gewidmet: an jedem Wochenende ziehen zwischen den Holzhütten und den mittelalterlichen Häusern der Zentralstraße Alphornbläser und Blasmusiker umher. Schön und fein sind die handgefertigten Spielzeuge und die Weihnachtsbaumschmuckdekorationen. Unter den Ständen werden nicht fehlen Handwerker, die direkt vor Ort die Verarbeitung von Keramik, Holz und Leder zeigen.
In Bruneck, der Hauptstadt des Pustertals, bewacht vom berühmten Kronplatz (Paradies für Skifahrer), sind bemalte Kerzen, von Hand gewebte Leinen- und Baumwolltischdecken sowie die wertvollen Klöppelspitzen aus dem benachbarten Ahrntal ausgestellt, ebenso wie gastronomische Spezialitäten, darunter die Käse, denen ein ganzer Verkostungsstand gewidmet ist. Eine interessante Gelegenheit ist es, einigen Handwerkern bei den verschiedenen Arbeitsschritten zuzusehen. Wer in der Nähe von Bruneck bleiben möchte, kann den Fuchshof-Bauernhof wählen (fünfzig Meter vom Zentrum entfernt), in sonniger Lage mit Blick auf den Kronplatz. Möglichkeiten zur Ausstattung für Kinder.
Bressanone Christmas Market
The Bressanone Christmas market takes you on a journey back in time, with its steam carousel, city carriage rides, and the arrival of Saint Nicholas at the market in Piazza Duomo. Among the many local crafts, the glass angels stand out for their beauty. You must also visit the collection of nativity scenes in the Diocesan Museum, very ancient pieces of great value, located in the Bishop’s Palace which houses the Diocesan Museum boasting a rich collection of Nativity scenes.
And right in the center of Piazza Duomo are the thirty stalls of the Christmas market. Here you can find wooden figures for the nativity scene (similar to those seen in the museum), typical embroidery, terracotta, tree decorations, or toys. For the more creative little ones, there is the opportunity to participate in the Children’s Workshop where, with the help of qualified staff, they will create the typical South Tyrolean decorations to hang at home. Just three kilometers from Bressanone lies the Frötscherof, a historic 12th-century farmstead, recently restored in a quiet location close to the Plose ski area.
Merano Christmas Market
The Merano Christmas market is, like the others, really very charming, with its wooden huts richly decorated with Christmas objects, among which the felted wool slippers stand out. Between one exhibitor and another, you can refresh yourself with the Feuerzangbowle, a gastronomic specialty of Merano: it is a sugarloaf soaked in rum left on a copper cauldron, inside which there is red wine. The droplets that fall, mixing pleasantly with the wine, give life to this particular drink, which can be accompanied perhaps by a typical apple strudel. For the most curious and hard-working looking for DIY ideas, artisans will be present at the stands and, between sales, will continue to forge iron, sew felt, and prepare balls for the Christmas tree.
On the beautiful Passeggiata Lungo Passirio, you will find: painted and chiseled glass, wrought iron objects, table decorations and the mythical “Lebkuchen,” traditional cookies, fritters, apple strudel, and the “Dinnede,” ancient forms of stuffed peasant bread. And at Club Stellina the little ones will have fun in the pastry shop all for them or in Baby Jesus’ workshop, from where they can send their wish letters. Not to be missed is the “gingerbread nativity scene” prepared by the city’s pastry chefs.
Vipiteno Christmas Market
Finally, as far as the Vipiteno Christmas market is concerned, it traditionally takes place in the shadow of the Zwölferturm, right in the historic center, among medieval walls, traces of the mining past, and the setup of Piazza Città.
Here too the market overflows with Christmas gift ideas, sweet spices, and hot drinks, but the uniqueness of the Vipiteno market is the nativity scene, set up near the tower and characterized by figurines, all strictly handmade. Another reason that makes the Vipiteno Christmas market special, especially for children, is the daily custom of throwing gifts out of the windows. The Christmas tree, finally, is richly decorated not only with baubles and local crafts but also with minerals, a symbol of the activity that has brought prosperity to the area.
Vipiteno, a few kilometers from the Austrian border, offers a truly evocative market, hosted in the intimate square on which the Zwölferturm stands, the symbol of the city. A particular tradition is that of the Great Advent Calendar: from December 1st to 24th, every afternoon at 5 pm, some windows of the most beautiful buildings will open, just like in calendars with numbered windows that are opened day by day, revealing a drawing related to the season.
From these, small surprises will be thrown for the children, accompanied by Christmas carols or the telling of a fairy tale. About seven kilometers from Vipiteno, in the Wipptal Valley, lies the Bacherhof farmhouse, organic and specialized in excursions: from the more demanding ones to mountain huts and high-altitude glaciers to the easier ones for the less trained. Not far away there are ski slopes and cross-country tracks. In winter, you can also go to mountain huts with sledges.
Christmas Markets in the Tures and Aurina Valleys
Campo Tures, in the Tures and Aurina Valleys, hosts the smallest and northernmost Christmas market in Italy. It lasts a whole month, from November 27 to the end of December 2004 (but only on weekends). Among about 80 peaks over 3000 meters, among slopes and ski lifts that delight all worthy skiers, the thousand lights of the most awaited festival of the year sparkle in the evening. You will find Saint Nicholas with gifts for children and the stalls in the square with tasty and beautiful traditional items, masterpieces of local craftsmanship, nowhere else to be found, and the nostalgic songs of the valleys. Inside the Ries-Aurina Nature Park glances the Niederunterer farmhouse, half a kilometer from the village, near the ski and cross-country slopes.
