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Christmas markets in Romagna and nearby

Christmas Nativity Scenes 2026

50 Christmas markets across Bologna, Ferrara, Romagna, San Marino and Pesaro: where they are, when they open and what kind of market each one is.

A Christmas of markets, from town squares to hill villages

From mid November to Epiphany the squares of Romagna and Bologna fill with wooden huts, lights and the smell of mulled wine and roast chestnuts. There are historic fairs, like the one of Santa Lucia under the porticoes of Bologna, Christmas villages for families by the sea and the smaller markets of the hill villages.

For every market you find the exact place, the dates and opening days, the hours when they are published and the official site. The dates are updated every year: when a town publishes those of the new Christmas, the market moves into the calendar with the right days.

Many markets open at the end of November or on 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and close on Christmas Eve or at Epiphany. In the villages they are often open only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: always check the days given on the page of each one.

Kinds of Christmas market

Christmas market 18
Wooden huts or stalls in the square with decorations, gifts, sweets and local food, often next to the lights and the town's tree.
Christmas village 7
Huts and family attractions: Father Christmas's house, games, entertainment, sometimes an ice rink.
Traditional fair 11
The historic fairs of the towns, with stalls along the porticoes and streets: crib figures, decorations, trees, Epiphany sweets.
Crafts and makers 7
Craftsmen, artists and makers selling what they make by hand: ceramics, jewellery, textiles, prints, one-off gift ideas.
In a village or castle 7
The market inside an old village or a castle: a few stalls, stone lanes, lights and the feel of a hill town.

Area

Type of event

Kinds of Christmas market

Pick your dates

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

Dates are those announced by the organisers and may change: always check the official site of the event before you leave.

Back every Christmas

The markets held every year whose dates for the new Christmas the town or the organiser has not published yet. The month is that of the last edition.

Tips for the Christmas markets

  • Check days and hours on the official site before you set off: many markets are open only at weekends and on holidays.
  • Go in the late afternoon: when it gets dark the lights come on and the atmosphere is at its best, but the weekend of 8 December is very busy.
  • Historic centres have restricted traffic zones and little parking: leave the car outside the centre and walk in, or let a driver take you.
  • Combine a market and a nativity scene in one day: the Nativity Scenes special lists those in the same area.

To the Christmas markets without worries

No parking to hunt for in the centre and no driving after the mulled wine: a driver takes you to the market and back to your hotel.

Transfers to events

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