Reason #5362 to love Rome: Piazza Navona’s Christmas Market

Piazza Navona Christmas marketFelice Anno Nuovo! A very Happy New Year!

Rome’s Piazza Navona has to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world.  Each December, continuing on to January 6th, Piazza Navona plays host to a Christmas market.

Although it can’t compete with the elegant Christmas markets of Vienna and Nürnberg, the piazza itself offers a stunning backdrop and makes a visit here worth it.

Piazza Navona Christmas marketOn January 6th, Italian children celebrate the Epiphany with the tradition of  La befana . La befana is an old witch who leaves good children a stocking filled with candies on the morning of January 6th. Walking through the market stalls, you will see many of these witches on display.

There are carnival games and a carousel on the square, gifts for sale at the stalls and lots of sugary treats.

Piazza Navona Christmas marketParents beware: it’s almost impossible to avoid the ubiquitous stands selling monster-sized cotton candy.

Enjoy wandering Rome’s Christmas market during your holiday visit to the Eternal City!

And make sure to behave so that you get your stocking full of sugary treats on January 6th…

Piazza Navona Christmas market

Piazza Navona Christmas market

7 Comments

  1. Debra Kolkka on January 1, 2013 at 11:30 am

    I wish I could be there for that!

  2. Claire 'Word by Word' on January 1, 2013 at 1:20 pm

    Great pics and a Happy New Year to you, all the best with your writing challenges for 2013.

  3. David Wilkinson on January 5, 2013 at 9:54 am

    Very interesting to read how Christmas is done in Rome. It is not just the Germans and Austrians! Good to see you are travelling loads and would be good to hear from you.

  4. kimberlysullivan on January 5, 2013 at 4:44 pm

    Gruesse, David! Ein schoenes Neues Jahr! How great to hear from you. Rome is definitely my favorite city, but it still doesn’t hold a candle to Vienna at Christmastime. Still have to sneak back occasionally for the Christmas markets and the Gluehwein. Will definitely be in touch… and hope you’re enjoying a great start to 2013!

  5. […] knows I’m ready to sing Rome’s praises in a heartbeat. But that doesn’t include Rome’s Christmas market, which doesn’t compare to my favorites and mostly has junky stands not worthy of one of the […]

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