Rural Christmas Markets

Alongside South Tyrol's five large Christmas markets there are several South Tyrolean villages where smaller but equally fascinating Christmas markets are organised. However, they all share the magical Christmas atmosphere, the attention devoted to local handicraft and the rich entertainment programme. Many of those markets are held at the Advent weekends and some of them also on 6 December (St. Nicholas Day) and 8 December (Feast of the Immaculate Conception).

• Christmas Market in Silandro: For 15 years the streets of the pedestrian area of Silandro have been turning into a large Christmas market. On the Advent weekends, local producers, artisans and artists exhibit their products and creations. The Christmas atmosphere of this market can be felt also by listening to the music played by the horn players of Silandro.

• "Christmas in the Passeiertal": The Val Passiria hosts four Advent events: the "Martiner Sternstundn" (lit. magic moments) in San Martino in Passiria, the "Liechtr'Zeit (lit. it's time for Christmas lights) in San Leonardo di Passiria, the "Moser Advent" in Moso in Passiria and the "Riffianer Advent" in Rifiano (Riffian in German). These events are smaller and less popular than the larger Christmas markets in the surrounding cities. Do not miss the exhibition of the whip-crackers of the Val Passiria and Advent in the lese.werk.statt.

• "Christkindl wortn" in Fié allo Sciliar: A wonderful Christmas market with an impressive Christmas tree and lovely stalls awaits you at the foot of Mt Sciliar. At the weekends from early December to early January you can attend the exhibitions of different choirs, including the man choir of Fié, DJ Le Flör and Voci.ssimo.

• Christmas Market in Algund: the wooden stalls in the Piazza della Chiesa of Lagundo (Algund in German) entice several visitors with their ideas for presents, aromatic drinks and different Christmas sweets and biscuits. The market takes place from the end of November to New Year's Eve and offers a rich entertainment programme for kids, as well as Show Cooking and an aperitif called "Aperitivo Lungo - Winter Edition".

• "The Magic of Advent in Parcines": This market is held in Piazza della Chiesa, a square illuminated with Christmas lights in the historic centre of Parcines. It is organised every year at the Advent weekends and besides mulled wine, Advent at the Unterweirachhof farm and the sell point of Christmas trees, people can also visit the Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum.

• "Sterntaler Christmas Market" in Lana: Above the Giardino dei Cappuccini in Lana di Sopra you can find a cosy Christmas market with 20 stalls and longer opening hours on 31 December. From the end of November to the end of December the market also features a Christmas Post Box and a prize competition with an image of the girl of the "Sterntaler" fairytale (The Star Money).

• "Eppan Advent": Twinkling lights, handicrafts, live music and mulled wine - this and much more is available at the Appiano Avvento (Eppan Advent) Christmas market in the village of Appiano (Eppan in German). Besides the stunning "Cribs exhibition at the Cathedral" of San Paolo you can purchase hand-made handicrafts by the artists of SelberGMOCHT Südtirol during the "Magia del Natale" in San Michele. "KidsXmas" is the name of an event which delights the whole family with unique emotions for an entire weekend.

• "Wine Meets Christmas: an artful journey through Cornaiano: 35 artworks crafted from old wine barrels are illuminated in the evenings and transform the wine village of Cornaiano (Girlan in German) into an extraordinary open-air museum. This event, which is also part of "Appiano Eppan Advent", takes place every weekend from the end of November until the beginning of January. The "Cornaiano Advent Hitt" at the Tannerhof rounds off the offerings.

• Christmas in Caldaro: from the end of November to the beginning of January the centre of Caldaro (Kaltern in German) turns into a small Christmas market. Here you can visit a model railway and a mask exhibition organised by the "Rostenboch Tuifl". Also this year you can take part in the lottery "Das grosse Los in Caldaro and Appiano" and enjoy the New Year's Eve aperitif at the winery Castel Sallegg Vineria.

• "Renon Christmas Train" (Rittner Christbahnl): A unique Christmas Market awaits you along the route of the historic Renon Railway in Soprabolzano and Collalbo. The large crowds at the valley station of the Renon Cable Car in Bolzano are proof of the event's popularity.
  attest to the popularity of this Christmas Market. On the Advent weekends there are a ventriloquist show, llamas, Swiss pine products, and the traditional Renon Farmers' Advent in Collalbo on December 8.

• "Marcé da Nadé - Corvara Christmas Market": The "Marcé da Nadé" takes place in the town square. Here you can admire handicrafts, a life-sized nativity scene by the sculptor Leo Moroder, gifts, fabric accessories, toys, jams, decorations, and a limited-edition Valdobbiadene DOCG wine.

• "Nadé te plaza - The Christmas Village" in San Cassiano: from mid-December to the beginning of January a small but cosy Christmas market is set up around the pavilion in the village centre where the sweet melodies of Christmas carols play and lights illuminate the market. Here you can buy handicrafts and find numerous ideas for your Christmas presents.

• "Christmas in the Park" in the Rasun di Sotto Leisure Park: this small Christmas market with music is surrounded by the impressive, snowy peaks of the Vedrette di Ries group.
  St. Nicholas and Krampus parades as well as the delicious scent of roasted chestnuts, aromatic mulled wine and many other regional dishes await you at the entrance to the Valle Anterselva.

• "Christmas in the Dolomites" in San Candido: this Christmas market in the alleys of San Candido awaits you at the weekends between the end of November and the beginning of January and every day during the Christmas holidays. Here you can purchase local handicrafts, dishes and find out more about the traditions and unique nature of this place. Also the museums Three Peaks Show Dairy, the DoloMythos Museum, and "Das süsse Standl" (The Sweet Stall) take part in the "Christmas in the Dolomites".

The following cosy and authentic Christmas Markets take place only on one or two weekends during the Advent period:

• Glorenza Advent: every year at the weekend of 8 December, South Tyrol's smallest city Glorenza (Glurns) in the Val Venosta organises a Christmas market between its historic walls with the motto "Light, scents, sounds". This Christmas market has been attracting numerous visitors to the city's arcades every year for more than 20 years.