The magic of the Christmas Market returns to Bolzano

Anticipation is already in the air, and Bolzano is ready to bring magic with one of the year’s most sought after events: the Christkindlmarkt, Italy’s very first traditional Christmas Market.

At 5:00 p.m., in the heart of Bolzano’s Walther Square, the festive season officially begins with the lighting of the city’s iconic “Tree of Wishes.” Towering 20 meters high and adorned with over 1,300 lights, this majestic tree is decorated with unique ceramic ornaments created by children and young people undergoing treatment in hospitals, as part of the ceramic-therapy programs run by the Lene Thun Foundation. This annual ceremony brings together the entire community and offers a multi-sensory experience filled with the aromas of cinnamon, sweets, and mulled wine, while the sounds of Christmas carols and the echoes of alpine horns fill the streets, creating a joyful atmosphere for all.

The beloved Christmas market, one of the season’s highlights, unfolds around Walther Square, featuring rows of wooden chalets brimming with artisanal crafts, festive ornaments, and South Tyrolean delicacies. Visitors can browse an array of handmade gifts, from felt slippers and embroidered tablecloths to traditional nativity figurines. The market offers a taste of regional flavors with specialties like speck, cured meats, apple cider, and strudel, while the returning Wine Lounge highlights local wines such as Santa Maddalena and Lagrein, as well as South Tyrolean sparkling wines and grappa.

Not only in Walther Square, where 74 traditional wooden chalets will be set up. This year, the Christmas Park, the Christmas market extension, will stretch along Via Isarco (near the Cathedral) and reach the Parco dei Cappuccini, creating a new area for exhibitors, with 18 additional beautiful stalls just steps away from the centre.

For the Christmas Market opening hours (from 11/28/24 to 01/06/25) please visit: www.mercatinodinatalebz.it

A Greener Christmas Market

This year, the Christmas Market stalls in Bolzano are once again dedicated to supporting the environment and respecting nature. South Tyrol’s original markets are committed to using local, low-impact products, efficient waste management, energy conservation, and sustainable transportation. To enjoy Advent in a more eco-friendly way, guests are encouraged to arrive at the market by train. Additionally, all brochures will be printed on 100% recycled paper, reusable cutlery and dishes will be used, canned drinks will be avoided, and food stands will offer seasonal, regional, vegetarian, and organic options, with only bottled water in glass bearing the “Bolzano Christmas Market” brand.

 

The events

The Bolzano Christmas Market returns as a citywide celebration, transforming various locations into festive hubs with a rich lineup of events. Highlights include the ninth edition of “Un Natale di Libri” (A Christmas of Books) at the Mercantile Palace, where notable authors like Gianni Oliva and Marcello Simoni present new works every weekend

from November 29 to December 14.

Music fills the city with over 130 performances, including weekend concerts in Walther Square, city band performances from the Mercantile Palace, and special concerts like Dommusik in the Cathedral on November 29.

Every Saturday morning, “La Regina delle Nevi” (The Snow Queen) ice show entertains at the Town Hall Square rink. Contemporary art is also featured through “Angelus Loci” (City of Angels), with four unique site-specific installations by local artists. These works, curated by franzLAB, offer symbolic representations of “angels of the place” around the city, each evoking themes of light, peace, and rebirth, enhancing Bolzano’s holiday charm.

 

Family Fun

For the youngest guests, the Christmas Market is a place of wonders. The holiday events calendar includes plenty of activities just for them. In Walther Square, children can choose between a fun ride on a merry-go-round with a magical horse or a trip on the electric train; in the Town Hall Square, there will be a puppet theatre and an ice skating rink; in the Capuchin Park, Christmas readings and various workshops will be held where kids can learn to create their own little Christmas angels to take home.

But that’s not all! Mark your calendars: on December 6, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, will visit the Christmas Market, accompanied by his little angels, parading through the stalls in Walther Square and the Christmas Park from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Then, on December 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., it will be the turn of the terrifying “Krampus,” who will revive one of the oldest traditions of South Tyrol.