Like a Winter Fairy Tale: lights, decorations, trees, Christmases, and the tolling of bells. In the villages of South Tyrol you can live a dream…
Lights, colours, scents: a warm and enveloping atmosphere in the crisp winter air that smells of spices and cinnamon, of mountain wood. It’s time for the Christmas Markets, which are staged in South Tyrol main cities (Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Sterzing and Brunico) from November 24 to January 6. Magical places to scout out the right gift on the stalls, look for Christmas decorations, handicrafts, enjoy a cup of mulled wine or taste a typical dessert. There are now many Christmas markets throughout the Alps and beyond, but South Tyrol boasts the copyright: its markets are the original ones.
What a Tree
The hallmark of the Bolzano Christmas market is definitely the big tree set up in Walther Square: 1,300 lights at a height of almost 20 metres, when it lights up the winter season begins. It is called the “Tree of Wishes” and it is decorated with Thun ceramic angels and charms, symbols of dreams and hope. From the tree the magic radiates throughout the city: among the narrow streets of the center, in the courtyards, in the squares. Sixty-five wooden chalets are set up in the main square, and the “Christmas Park” (Alcide Berloffa Park) hosts 32 more stands.
Lots of beautiful wooden chalets where you can unearth the handicraft or curious object. Not forgetting to taste some local delicacies, such as Lebkuchen sweets, apple fritters, cookies, Zelten and Stollen.
There are also many events scheduled, so not to miss one just go to the new info point at No. 11 Wheat Square, which provides dedicated brochures and maps.
And to end on a high note, you can continue with a dinner at one of the town’s restaurants (Laurin, Zur Kaiserkron, Argentieri Restaurant, Tree Brasserie, Italia&Amore, Gasthaus Fink, Löwengrube, Batzen Häusl) where the in-house chefs have prepared a special “Market Menu.”
Merano. A Christmas Village and the “Silent Lights”
In the town overlooking the River Passirio, everything revolves around the Christmas Village at the piazza della Rena. Here we find a large chalet where you can book a gourmet dinner but also participate in creative workshops to learn how to create an advent wreath or a centrepiece for the holidays.
The spa park will also be transformed into a wonderland for the occasion: during the “Silent Lights” you can enjoy an exciting and magical experience surrounded by nature, moving among light, wind, sound and landscape.
Brixen: what a tree!
Peace and light are the themes chosen for this year’s Brixen Christmas Market. In the atmospheric Hofburg courtyard, the light and music show “Colours. A Homage to Peace,” where the 60-child Peace Choir will perform. Also worth seeing is the XXL-sized Advent calendar decorating the 24 windows of the Bauzano House, overlooking the Cathedral Square: each day a new window is opened and pictures and painted phrases on the theme of peace appear.
Jingle bells in Vipiteno
Din don, carillons and melodies: Christmas in Vipiteno celebrates bells. Small themed glass bells can be found on the stalls, a traditional item that makes a valuable gift. But sounds are spread everywhere: a carillon consisting of 25 bells has been installed on the Tower of Twelve and rings every day at a set time. Inside the Sound Forest at North Park there are sound stations and snow games, and on Mount Horse there is a special bell: here everyone can leave his letter to Santa Claus. It will be sent directly to him.
The scent of Brunico
Christmas has its own distinctive scent: a mix of ginger and cinnamon, woods and pine, snow and chimney fire. A scent to always inhale. That’s why at the Brunico Christmas Market, which is historically linked to the scents of nature, they thoughtfully created “the Christmas scent.” Thanks to a collaboration with the company Bergila, an essence of herbal notes with that touch of spice was born that reminds us of the holiday atmosphere even in the mid-August.
To dive even deeper into the Christmas scents, you can visit the Fragrance Barn at Tschurtschenthaler Square: a sensory experience among the herbs, oils, and scents of South Tyrol.
Author: Chiara Todesco
About the Author:
Born into a family of mountaineers, Chiara Todesco inherited her passion for the peaks as a child. A professional journalist, she has always covered snow and alpine tourism. She currently writes for the newspaper La Stampa, the magazine Scimagazine and collaborates with the website Scigratis.it.
Chiara has published three books, with her beloved peaks as a scenary: Warmth of wool and scent of resin – The mountain of women(MonteRosa Editions); The Ladies of the Peaks – Stories of female mountain guides and the collection of fairy tales for children Winter tales in the Dolomites (both for Trentini Publisher).
Cover Ph. Giuseppe Ghedina
