The magical places of Christmas in Bologna waiting to be discovered
Bologna is a destination to be discovered in every season of the year, but there is no doubt that during Christmas, the city of towers shines with a special and irresistible charm. Among the most iconic places is, of course, Galleria Cavour.
It has become a city tradition: when the giant Christmas bow appears on the porticoed entrance on Via Farini, it is a sign that the holidays are about to begin and Christmas shopping can officially start.
Every year, Gioia Martini treats visitors to a dreamy and magnetic atmosphere inspired by the lights of the great European capitals, with the aim of transforming a stroll among the elegant haute couture shop windows into a journey where dreams and reality meet.
Another essential symbol of Christmas in Bologna is the large tree that stands next to the Fountain of Neptune, a few steps from Piazza Maggiore: its lighting is always eagerly awaited by the city’s residents. Another essential symbol of Christmas in Bologna is the large tree that stands next to the Fountain of Neptune, a few steps from Piazza Maggiore: its lighting is always eagerly awaited by the citizens.
It wouldn’t be Christmas in the city without a stroll through the markets of the ancient Fiera di Santa Lucia: a true Bolognese institution that renews itself in all its joyful magic under the portico of the Chiesa dei Servi in Strada Maggiore. Here you can find home decorations, nativity scene items and small handmade objects.
Speaking of markets, we recommend the French market in Piazza Minghetti: a small village populated by wooden huts where you can be enchanted by typical Provençal products such as croissants, tasty pastries, lavender scents and handmade accessories. Finally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a stroll among the lights in the city centre: from those in Via d’Azeglio to the alleys of the Quadrilatero district, where you can enjoy food and wine tours and local flavours.
In this regard, we recommend trying the traditional Bolognese dessert: the famous Certosino, which boasts a centuries-old recipe dating back to the Middle Ages and handed down by the monks of the Certosa monastery to the present day. And so, let Christmas officially begin.