Words by Pat Eggleton
Still in Northern Italy, here are three more Christmas events for you to enjoy:
Natale in Arena, Verona
4th December 2010 – 23rd January 2011
If you want to see a spectacular Christmas display in a magnificent setting, this is the event for you. Every year since 1983 the city of Verona has displayed a collection of over 400 nativity scenes in the illuminated arena, along with an enormous sculptured comet which reaches out from the Arena into the Piazza Bra, where a Christmas market, concerts and other events also take place. The cribs come from museums, private collections and the studios of craftsmen all over the world to make this a truly international event.
The exhibits are lit with special effects and the visitor becomes a participant in the scenes as he or she strolls from one nativity scene to another, passing sculpted figures along the way.
Some of the money raised at this event is donated to various charities and towards the building of an art school in Bethlehem.
While you are in Verona, don’t forget to taste the special pandoro veronese and nadalin, a Christmas cake in the form of a star.
Natale in Arena is at the Verona Arena from 4th December 2010 – 23rd January 2011.
Opening hours:
0900 – 20.00 every day including holidays.
Entry fee: €7.00 with reductions to €6.00 [€4.00 for school groups booking in advance].
Website.
Mercatino di San Nicola [Christmas Market] Genoa
December
This year Genoa’s Piazza Piccapietra will turn into a Christmas market for the whole of December and all the buildings around the square will be transformed to look as they did in the Renaissance.
There will be craft stalls and you will be able to see local people making products such as cheese. There will also be performances by folk groups from both the Genoa area and other parts of Italy. They will recreate traditional stories.
The annual Fiera dei Libri [book fair] will, this year, be part of this market.
Opening times
10.00 – 19.30 daily.
Free entrance to the market.
Turin Christmas Market
3rd – 23rd December 
Turin’s Christmas Market is held throughout Advent in the piazza Borga Dora area. There will be stalls, food stands and an enormous Christmas tree. You will be able to solve all your present problems here as objects from Belarus, crystal from the Czech Republic and objects from Spain and Cambodia will be on sale as well as locally made gifts. There will be a special play area for children.
Restaurants around the Borgo Dora will be offering special Christmas menus.
Visit the website for more information.
