Ortisei Christmas Village

Like every year in December, Ortisei turns into the “Christmas Village” and is definitely on of the top Christmas Markets in Italy. In the wooden huts you can discover sculptures, candles and glass objects made by master craftsmen but also South Tyrolean spirits and wines. The Christmas Village combines the historical traditions of Val Gardena with the elegance and exclusivity of the range of products. The “Lodenlounges”, cosy and comfortable wooden huts, invite visitors to experience the market with all five senses, by tasting local products and gastronomic delicacies in a romantic atmosphere.

In the streets of the town, the exhibition of the nativity scenes displayed in the showcase booths is also worth visiting and, as every year, an additional human-sized wooden statue will be added to enrich the largest nativity scene in the world. Open until January 4, 2026.

Merano Christmas Market

Merano in South Tyrol is a town known as a place for relaxation and well-being. They carry this way of life into the holiday season by hosting a market that captures the magic of Christmas. Experience snow reaching the summit of the alpine peaks, community togetherness, and the smell of cinnamon and fresh pastries. The whole town is embellished for the season, and in the central square you can watch figure skating shows or hit the ice yourself. Afterwards, warm up with a cup of tea or mulled wine in the heated booths, while admiring the backdrop of snow-tipped mountains. The sparkling Christmas lights at night are enough to bring visitors, but they also do us a huge favor in selling locally made woolen and wooden goods, in addition to other local crafts. The Merano Christmas Market is open until January 6, 2026

For the three weeks before Christmas – until December 24th – Campo Santo Stefano in Venice is transformed into a Christmas Village,  entirely filled with craftsmen and food producers, whose displays are housed in 30 little wooden cabins. The square is lined with a backdrop picturing Venetian palaces, giving the whole scene a festival atmosphere.

The Venice Christmas Market features Christmas ornaments and decorations of Murano glass, traditional carnival masks, ceramics, jewelry, marbled paper and other Venetian craft specialties. Murano glass is also used in jewelry, alone or worked into designs with silver and gold. Carnival masks can be as simple as the red, gold and black eye masks or elaborate creations from the studios of all the town.

One section of the Campo San Stefano market is devoted to Italian specialty foods – traditional cakes and sweets, fine olive oils, vintage balsamic vinegars and other locally made gourmet products fill the booths. Look for creamy white almond-studded nougat, fruit-filled Panettone from nearby Verona, bags of specialty Pastas, tiny Biscotti, dried Porcini Mushrooms, candied Chestnuts and delicacies made with precious white Truffles from Alba. Open until December 24, 2025.

Rome Christmas Market

The Eternal City’s most famous markets are in the Piazza Navona, built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian and now home to three spectacular fountains. During the season, the square transforms into a bustling, colorful shopping spot, selling nativity scenes and Christmas sweets, like biscuits and nougat. Wander around and watch the street artists and acrobats and of course, visit Santa Claus. But be sure to come back on January 6, when Befana hands out presents to good kids and coal to the not-so-good ones. Rome’s Christmas Market (the link on Rome’s website has not been updated yet) at Piazza Navona is open until January 6, 2026.

Naples Nativity Scene

Known for its rich history, incredible architecture and mouth-watering Neapolitan cuisine, Naples city center is bustling with vibrant energy, creating a unique holiday experience. In December, the city becomes a festive hub at the Naples Christmas Market, where visitors can explore wooden stalls filled with artisanal crafts and traditional Italian holiday foods. Definitely one of the top Christmas Markets.

If you’re one of those people who think Christmas is over too quickly, Naples is the city for you! Famous for their nativity scenes, or presepi, they have a year-round Christmas “market”. Shops and entire streets offer the traditional figurines every month of the year. Starting around mid-November, the street Via San Gregorio truly enhances the holiday feels! Get lost among the many market stands and shops selling local treats. Stroll down the narrow alleyways and then check out the live nativity scene is Piazza S. Gaetano.

Taormina Christmas Market

Taormina, though beautiful all year round, becomes even more magical in Christmas time, and it’s a great spot for those who prefer mild temperatures to snow. During December and through Epiphany, a folkloric atmosphere takes over the small, hilltop town with concerts, exhibitions, nativity scenes, and historical enactments. The stands are full of sweets, like Sicilian cakes, crafts, and everything you need to decorate for the season.

Trace your way through history while navigating the medieval streets in the ‘Presepe Vivente’ where the nativity scene comes to life throughout the city, incorporating the entire community. Enjoy the symbolic tradition of lighting the Christmas bonfire in front of Duomo di Taormina. While enjoying the breathtaking sea views and Mt. Etna from the city center and admiring the twinkling lights and decorations interwoven with the ancient buildings, Taormina is the embodiment of Christmas time. Open until January 6, 2026.

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Mount Etna and Stromboli are among the most active volcanoes in Europe. They have only recently erupted again. These sleeping beauties are not that sleepy after all.

Awakened Mount Etna

The earth is alive: the recent eruption of the Sicilian volcano Etna showed this clearly. A shower of ash fell on the nearby city of Catania, causing the local airport to ban take-offs and landings for several hours. Mount Etna has been going through an especially active period for the last five years. Although it erupts frequently, lava has not reached nearby towns since the 1800s.

The authorities and population were at least as concerned about the ash emissions from nearby Stromboli on the island of the same name to the north of Sicily. It also came to life at practically the same time as its brother Mount Etna.

Mount Etna is the highest volcano in Europe with almost 11.000 feet (3.327 m) tall and an average basal diameter of 25 miles (40 km). It is also the most active volcano in the world. The spectacular eruptions and fiery lava flows of Mongibello have always been of great interest to scientists and visitors from all over the planet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its globally important geological features, Mount Etna’s first eruptions date back to about 570,000 years ago.

One thing that’s still on my bucket list is a horseback riding tour on Mount Etna. In winter, Mount Etna also offers the surprising chance to practice winter sports, a few miles/kilometers from the sea.

The various hikes climb along the Mount Etna Park nature trails, between woods and verdant orchards, up to the highest altitudes with fascinating views of lunar landscapes, centuries-old lava flows, active caves and steam vents, revealing the charm of this extraordinary natural oasis.

Active Stromboli

Stromboli – the whole island is a volcano. Stromboli is the active fire giant of a volcanic archipelago: the Aeolian Islands, a treasure trove of obsidian and pumice. It has only recently erupted again. Huge quantities of lava poured out of the crater, making its way down several hundred meters into the sea.

The island of Stromboli is the most northern island of the Aeolian archipelago. The UNESCO World Heritage Site lies between Panarea and the Calabrian coast. There is no way to miss the imposing volcano Mount Stromboli, one of the most active and perhaps unique volcanoes in the world with its three perpetually erupting craters.

Mount Stromboli is a volcano that commands a respectful awe from all who visit: with two-thirds submerged under the surface of the sea, over time humans have built settlements and communities on its back, for millennia we have continued to tread on its sensitive skin, almost teasing it a little.

Of all the Sicilian volcanoes, Iddu (in the Sicilian dialect He) awaits you for an extraordinary night-time experience. The Stromboli guides are highly skilled in navigating the best trails to the summit, depending on the eruptive phases. In any case, the spectacle is assured, rich in emotions that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Sleeping Giant – Vesuvius

The myths surrounding ancient Pompeii made Mount Vesuvius near Naples world-famous. Since its last eruption in 1944, when 26 people died despite the evacuation of thousands of people, the mountain has been considered dormant. However, this does not mean that it cannot become active again. There are therefore evacuation plans in place in case of an emergency.

Ground rises significantly in places – Phlegraean Fields

The danger in the Naples region is particularly acute due to the volcanic area known as the Phlegraean Fields. They are under constant observation by experts. Most recently, at the end of May 2024, they caused an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4, causing the ground in the region to heave by more than 8 inches (20 cm) in some places. As with Mount Vesuvius, there are evacuation plans in place for the fields, just in case.

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Place no. 16 – Drink Kong, Rome
Place no. 35 – 1930, Milan
Place no. 39 – Locale Firenze, Florence
Place no. 46 – L’Antiquario, Naples

Drink Kong, Rome

Set in a leafy square, a short ride from Rome’s center, Drink Kong is probably not the bar you would expect to find. Taking in ’70s futurism, King Kong and Japanese influences, this amalgam concept is set in a wrap-around space with nightclub-black décor, illuminated by little else than neon. This is a busy bar – locals and international visitors know Drink Kong has some of the most forward-thinking cocktails in the city.

Patrick Pistolesi, owner and bartender, brought this very particular vision alive. His new menu Perimetro is set to step into new ground. Put it all together – the décor, the atmosphere and the drinks – and there’s nowhere in the world of bars quite like Drink Kong. No wonder it’s among Italy’s Best Bars.

Here’s one of the drinks, you can make at home. But, it’s better to have it at Drink Kong and hang with the locals.

Drink Kong is located at Piazza di S. Martino Ai Monti, 8, 00154 Roma

1930, Milan

Milan’s 1930 is a speakeasy taken seriously. To even find the bar you need someone in the know, because not only is the address undisclosed, entry isn’t guaranteed even if you’ve befriended owners Flavio Angiolillo and Marco Russo. But once inside, the twentieth-century American Prohibition vibes come to life with exposed brickwork and dimmed lighting which add to the exclusivity of the bar. The difference between 1930 and other generic speakeasy-style bars is the world-class drinks program. Unlike the original speakeasies which the bar takes inspiration from, 1930 doesn’t just serve rye whiskey and moonshine, but some of the best cocktails in Europe.

Its current menu focuses on Africa, using unorthodox ingredients from the likes of niche grape varieties from Algeria to infusions made with Africa’s famed baobab tree. The menu is supported by a top-level food offering from the same continent, making 1930 not only one of the most exclusive bars in the world, but also one of the most exotic.

1930 is located at an undisclosed address.

Locale Firenze, Florence

Hosted in the historical Palazzo Concini, Locale Firenze is like a time machine taking guests on a journey through centuries across its two floors, each a nod to Florentine culture. The Concini Palace has an extensive and unique history strongly tied to Florentine politics during the time of the Medici family. Impeccably and respectfully restored, the basement dates back to the 1200s and today hosts the cellar and a mixology lab. The upper 1500s floor has a Renaissance atmosphere with a contemporary touch thanks to its mirrors, antique furniture, lavish chandeliers and charming frescoes. A stunning courtyard with a transparent, movable high ceiling is host to the cocktail bar, surrounded by green walls and high tables.

The drinks list is as distinctive as the venue and its atmosphere. With a modern touch, bar manager Matteo Di Ienno’s menu feature signatures such as Elisir Caterina alongside seasonal recipes. Summer sips evoking flowers, such as Iris, with white rum, iris bitter and vermouth, already feel like masterpieces.

Locale Firenze is located at Via delle Seggiole, 12r, 50122 Firenze

L’Antiquario, Naples

Resting among traditional boutiques and shops in the bustling streets of Naples, behind its picturesque wooden door L’Antiquario boasts an international allure. The retro red velvet sofas, the floral wallpaper and the elegant black boiserie blend perfectly with the flair, expertise and innate Neapolitan hospitality of the team. Equally sophisticated and nodding to tradition, bartenders in white uniforms welcome guests who ring the doorbell to enter this intimate bar. The backlit back bar stands at the center stage of the cocktail bar. Here, guests can enjoy a Red Hook from the Classics cocktail menu, or dive deep into the city’s history and heritage with a signature from the Napoli Capital City drink list.

Equally, the natural alternative to spirits and cocktails within this setting is the selection of champagne, also used by the team of Alex Frezza, co-founder and internationally acclaimed bartender, to serve a spectacular rendition of the French 75.

L’Antiquario is located at Via Vannella Gaetani, 2, 80121 Napoli

Alla tua salute!

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