City lights at Christmas

From Piazza della Mostra to Piazza Duomo

Leave the square and turn onto Via San Marco. Keep looking up lest you miss the frescoes of Palazzo Del Monte, on the corner of Via Manci. To your right is the German Quarter, once inhabited by boatmen and fishermen working on the Adige, when the river flowed right through the city. 

Continuing along Via Manci, take a short detour to Piazza Cesare Battisti for a cup of tea in front of a nice warm bonfire, and perhaps stop to listen to a story. (to be included only if the Filò al falò initiative is confirmed again this year) 

Your destination is Piazza Duomo, however, the heart of the city which takes on a dreamlike quality during the Christmas Market period, with photomapping light projections on the facades of its historical buildings and marble cathedral. A spectacle to enjoy with your nose in the air. 

All the way to Piazza Fiera, the markets' historic home

It's time for a short stroll along Via Mazzini, past its cafés and boutiques. Your pole star is Torrione, Piazza Fiera bastion.  

You are in the heart of Trento's Christmas markets here and Christmastime bursts into a symphony of voices, lights and aromas. The first edition of the markets was hosted here in 1993, protected by the city walls, with a view to bringing together all the stalls to offer Christmas gift ideas. 

This is the exact same spirit which generated the first markets in Germany in the 14th century, a tradition brought back to life in Trentino, which has always been a meeting place between Italian and Central European cultures. 

For the little ones there is Piazza Dante

For the little ones, the must-see is Piazza Dante, with its Enchanted Father Christmas Village. You can see it from afar, with its 32-metre high Ferris wheel. Get there on foot, or on board the Christmas train, which stops at the most important points in the city. 

A packed programme of activities awaits you, with games, readings, handicraft workshops and a refreshment area to warm you up with a hot chocolate and a sweet treat. 

And tomorrow a trip to Monte Bondone

After this nose-in-the-air walk to admire the Christmas lights, perhaps look up even further, beyond the city, to the top of the mountains. More precisely, to Bondone, Trento's mountain. 

Its a half-an-hour journey by car from the city centre stalls to the snow on the ski slopes. Monte Bondone is ideal for cross-country skiers or downhill beginners, as its slopes are easy and never too crowded. 

The comet that makes your Christmas in Trento perfect.