Christmas Markets in Valsugana

This year we skipped the usual Alto Adige Christmas markets, lovely but already well known, to visit the Valsugana ones over a short weekend. For me the special charm of these markets lies entirely in their setting, which makes them different and in their own way unique. From Trento we drove along the Valsugana state road, reaching Borgo, and from there we went up into Val di Sella, towards Malga Costa to visit the "Cattedrale Vegetale" (Tree Cathedral) at the end of the trail called "Artesella". Unfortunately, because of an unforeseen event, the access was closed on Saturday, so we headed back down into the valley and began our "Christmas itinerary" from Caldonazzo. Here the Christmas market takes place inside an old courtyard: Corte-Trapp (known as the castle of Caldonazzo), where you find both open-air food stalls and stands of quality artistic craftsmanship inside the stables.

The tour continued with a stop at the lake, and after lunch we visited the village of Levico Terme and bought a typical cake from the Valle dei Mocheni at the pastry shop, similar to strudel but with cream and berries. Afterwards we reached the market of Levico Terme, which winds along the avenues of the Habsburg-era spa park. Once we had finished our round of the market, where we bought local food products (cheese and speck) and a few little gifts, we headed for the hotel. In the evening we took the chance for a stroll and a hot chocolate in Cavalese. The next day was devoted to the Christmas Market of Pergine, which winds along the streets of the town centre. Here we also watched the arrival of the Santa Claus fun run, but we couldn't see the parade in Habsburg costume arriving by steam train, because it was postponed by a few hours from the scheduled time.

We did, however, see all the nativity scenes that the local people set out along the village streets, and also a small but varied and highly original exhibition of nativity scenes. After bidding farewell to Valsugana, the last market we visited was the one in Trento, truly rich in the quantity and quality of its products, with many food stalls ready to feed the huge crowds who had come to buy gifts and souvenirs to take home.