For those visiting Abruzzo in December who are used to the long drawn out Christmas Markets at home which run from the last weekend of November through to Christmas Eve, you’ll quickly notice a few differences!
Christmas markets in Abruzzo (mercatini di natale) are beautifully short and sweet, a long weekend at the most. There is a glut of them around the week of December 8th as their purpose is to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception which is an Italian national holiday. Their focus isn’t just on purchases for Christmas but the experience, eating and drinking with multiple activities planned around children rather than the simple Meet n Greet of Santa. Small wooden chalets house local craftsman and artisans selling high-quality products that range from christmas decorations to arts and craft interior design accessories, clothes, stationery, handbags and soaps and of course plenty of handmade chocolates.
Generally they are hosted in the main piazza of the town’s historic centre, but spill out into the surrounding narrow cobbled streets where a slight chill in the air gives the perfect excuse to browse whilst sampling seasonal pastries that burst with the final Autumn harvest; caggionetti, those fried ravioli-like parcels stuffed with chestnuts and chocolate, orange zest and rum or Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Mostaccioli cookies. Try taking the mountain train, the Transiberiana d’Italia in the weeks that leading up to Christmas that will take you on a picturesque journey up into the mountains to visit the Christmas markets up high!
For those that prefer something savoury, try a panini filled with fat fegato sausages (pork, liver and orange zest) or porchetta, or just a fritelle, deep-fried bits of dough served hot that are superb alone or stuffed with a slice of prosciutto or bruschetta dribbled with new season olive oil. Aromatic mulled wine, thick hot chocolate will pull you in and one is never enough! Those that have gastro food stands expect to find polenta, mushroom and truffle pasta, bean and bitter winter greens dishes that the region does so well and of course arrosticini will always be on the menu with roasted chestnuts.
Abruzzo Christmas Markets 7-8th December
Province | Town |
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Chieti | Vasto – Il mercatino di Natale dell’Artigianato Creativo Christmas Market with emphasis of decorations from local artisans View Event |
Chieti | Roccascalegna – Mercartini di Natale A traditional arts Christmas market with inflatables for the little one & performance on Sunday eveningn by Cocerto del Beato Nunzio Gospel Choir. View event |
Teramo | Castellato – Mercatini delle Strenne Artisan gifts, workshops for children, bagpipers, street food View Event |
Chieti | San Salvo – Il Mercatino di Natale Artisan christmas fair View event |
L’Aquila | Roccaraso Artisan market, traditional bagpipers, light show, children cartoons, exhibitions of Roccaraso before the 2nd WW bombing & nativity cribs |
L’Aquila | Sulmona – Natale en Centro A mix of events including Chocolate Days & street food till the 6th January View Event |
L’Aquila | Ovindoli – Mercatini di Natale Traditional Christmas market with additional chocolate festival : Abruzzo and other regional specialities and traditional music View Event |
Pescara | Tocco da Casauria – Un Tocco di Natale Be swept away with a large selection of artisan products and gifts at the artisan market and the arrival of Santa for children! View Event |
L’Aquila | Pacentro – Mercatini di Natale Over 50 stands will be set up in specially designed wooden houses and in the doors of historic houses, which will host local artists and craftsmen. View Event |
Chieti | Casalincontrada – Il Paese del Natale Father Christmas, an extensive artisan market, illuminations and live music View Event |
Teramo | Teramo – Natale Teramano
An artisan Christmas market that runs till the 6th January |
Abruzzo Christmas Markets 14th-15th December
Province | Town |
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Chieti | Vasto – Il mercatino di Natale dell’Artigianato Creativo Christmas Market with emphasis of decorations from local artisans View Event |
Chieti | Roccascalegna – Mercartini di Natale A traditional arts Christmas market with inflatables for the little one & performance on Sunday eveningn by Cocerto del Beato Nunzio Gospel Choir. View event |
Chieti | San Salvo – Il Mercatino di Natale Artisan christmas fair View event |
L’Aquila | Roccaraso – Il Mercatino di Natale Artisan market, traditional bagpipers, light show, children cartoons, exhibitions of Roccaraso before the 2nd WW bombing & nativity cribs |
L’Aquila | Sulmona – Natale en Centro A mix of events including processions, an artisan market, Santa & street food till the 6th January View Event |
L’Aquila | Ovindoli – Mercatini di Natale Traditional Christmas market with additional chocolate festival : Abruzzo and other regional specialities and traditional music View Event |
Chieti | Tornareccio – Arnie Aperte – Mercatini di Natale 2019 Abruzzo’s famous honey town artisan Christmas market View Event |
Chieti | Tornareccio – Arnie Aperte – Mercatini di Natale Abruzzo’s Queen of Honey town hosts a honey and traditional Christmas market View Event |
Pescara | Etsy MadeinItaly Christmas Market The online craft retailer is sponsoring physical Christmas craft markets for the 3rd year all over Italy. #MadeinItaly is being hosted in 16 Italian cities and includes both Pescara. View Event |
L’Aquila | Capestrano – Villaggio di Babbo Natale A traditional artisan food and gift Christmas market and the opportunity to meet Father Christmas in his grotto View Event |
Teramo | Teramo – Natale Teramano
An artisan Christmas market that runs till the 6th January |
Abruzzo Christmas Markets – 21-22 & 23rd Dec
Province | Town | Look |
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L’Aquila | L’Aquila (Historic Centre) Christmas Market with Magic Harry Potter theme |
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Pescara | Manoppello Scalo – Natale in Pista Christmas market with ice-skating & evening Enchanted Circus show |
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L’Aquila | Ovindoli – Mercatini di Natale Waiting for Baby Jesus… traditional Christmas market See Event |
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Teramo | Teramo – Natale Teramano
An artisan Christmas market that runs till the 6th January |
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Sulmona | Sulmona – Natale en Centro A mix of events including processions, an artisan market, Santa & street food till the 6th January View Event |
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Teramo | Tortereto Lido – Mercatino Natale
Coastal Christmas market that runs from 08-20.30 |