Christmas in Verona

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Verona is a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year but there is nothing like Christmas for the magic which infuses every part of the city. With its colourful lights, Christmas trees, decorations and traditional sweet treats, it is very much the most wonderful time of the year!

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. (Hamilton Wright Mabi)

Christmas markets and traditional delicacies

This year, for the firs time, the heart of the Christmas season will beat in the magnificent Piazza Bra, between Palazzo Barbieri, the Arena and the Gardens. But that's not all! From Piazzetta Municipio and Piazzetta Melvin Jones to Piazza dei Signori, from 21 November to 28 December, the magic of Chistmas will come to life with our beloved Christkindlmarkt - the traditional Christmas markets that will bring to Verona the enchanting atmosphere of Nuremberg, our twin city and the birthplace of this cherished tradition. Even the biggest Scrooge will be filled with the Christmas spirit when wandering around the wooden stalls, stacked high with artisan products of all kinds. You are sure to find something to delight you on the market, with products ranging from traditional Christmassy gifts to handmade souvenirs (wooden and woollen items, costume jewellery, ceramics and more), from handmade soaps to liqueurs, from luxury chocolate to German-style bretzels and bratwurst. Not forgetting a huge range of confectionery, plus sausage sandwiches and steaming-hot pearà, a creamy sauce served with pork sausage and rustic bread. And to wash it all down, do not forget a mug of mulled wine, known as vin brulè in Italy, and the outstanding craft ales.

A Christmas treat

Christmas is a feast for all the senses and for all ages here in Verona. A stroll through the city offers the chance to be beguiled by the twinkling lights and to be intoxicated by the aromas of Christmas, one of which is pandoro, the famous Christmas cake was created in Verona in 1894 by the the patissier Domenico Melegatti. Did you know that this cake has an even older ancestor? It was baked to celebrate the first Christmas in Verona under the rule of the Della Scala family. I am talking about Nadalìn, a more compact star-shaped cake which you can still find in all of Verona’s patisseries. A slightly rarer and more niche offering comes in the form of the Offella, a luxury cake invented at the end of the 19th century by Giovanni Battista Perbellini.

The Feast of Saint Lucy

To experience an authentic Verona Christmas, do not miss the feast of Saint Lucy. This saint’s day, celebrated on 13 December, is even more keenly anticipated here in Verona than the arrival of Father Christmas.
According to tradition, the patron saint of the blind would descend from the heavens on a cart stacked high with presents, drawn by a donkey, to give gifts to good children. Her annual feast day is one of the city’s oldest and best-loved traditions: every year, the charming stalls return to Piazza Bra, filling it with the joyful spirit of a Christmas market packed with sweets, toys, and gifts of all kinds for both young and old.

Festive events

Christmas in Verona is more than lights and festive markets, it's a celebration of events and experiences to share with everyone.

From Christmas concerts to theatre and ballet shows, from the colorful Christmas Run to the New Year's Eve in Piazza Bra, and the enchanting New Year's concerts, to the International Exhibition "Nativities from the World", which this year moves to the evocative Palazzo dei Capitanio (in Cortile del Tribunale, accessible from Piazza Erbe and Piazza dei Signori) and will be open from 16 November ti 18 January 2026. Families can also enjoy special moments together with the House of Santa Claus, the Enchanted Forest, and the ice-skating rinks in Piazza Sacco e Vanzetti, in the Arsenale area, open until 6 January.

Get into the Christmas spirit with a spot of shopping and a hot mug of mulled wine at this magical time of year when everyone looks to the future and people come together to celebrate.

Long live Christmas, for young children and big kids!