10 Things to do in Bologna at Christmas

Bologna is a city always lively and full of life, but when Christmas comes it becomes a great party that is lived in a special way in the streets. Strolling through the medieval and Renaissance city decorated with thousands of lights and garlands, visiting some of its nativity scenes or enjoying the many events that are scheduled for these holidays are plans that you can not miss.

Afterwards, nothing like regaining strength with a hot chocolate and a piece of delicious pandoro, or with a glass of wine and a tapa of local sausages, whatever you prefer. There is still plenty to do, such as browsing the Christmas markets to buy nativity figurines and handmade gifts or participating as a Bolognese in traditions that may surprise you. There are many things to do in Bologna at Christmas time, do you want to know them?

If strolling through Bologna at any time of the year is a real pleasure, doing it at Christmas leaves unforgettable postcards to remember.

It is worth to wrap up warm, wear comfortable shoes and walk around the city calmly when night has fallen because it is a real visual spectacle. Take your cell phone or camera with a full battery because you will not get tired of taking pictures.

The whole city dresses up with millions of lights to celebrate the festivities. The medieval porticoes, the palaces, the streets and squares of Bologna and even the Garisenda and Asinelli towers are filled with lights and decorations.

And, of course, you can't miss the big Christmas tree. It is placed in the historic heart, next to the basilica of San Petronio, the patron saint of Bologna.

If we talk about Italy, you might think of Nativity scenes in Naples, which have a long tradition, but in Bologna they are also important. But in Bologna they also have their importance: did you know that one of the oldest nativity scenes in the world is preserved in this city?

You will find it in the basilica of Santo Stefano. It is an adoration of the Magi in polychrome wood from the 13th century. It depicts the scene life-size. It is really beautiful.

But if you want to immerse yourself in the nativity scene tradition of Bologna, you have other important appointments in the city. In the Basilica of San Francesco, in the Basilica of San Petronio or in the Pinacoteca Nazionale you can also contemplate these small jewels so dear to the inhabitants of the city.

Take the opportunity to buy some figurines for your nativity scene.

In this tour you can get ideas to design your own nativity scene or expand the one you have at home with some of these figurines. Just stop by one of the Christmas markets that are set up in the city. In stalls and stores you will find figures of all types and sizes.

At this point, I want to explain some really curious anecdotes related to the cribs. The first is that the authentic Bolognese nativity scene is completely handmade, made of terracotta and the figures do not wear cloth clothes.

The second curiosity is that it has some typical figures. One of them is the "wonder", which represents a woman with a gesture of astonishment before the manger. The other is the sleeper, a man with a bottle in his hand who is oblivious to everything.

In Bologna there are several markets where you can find everything from ornaments to culinary delights of the region. Spending a few hours strolling through them is one of the best tours of Bologna that you can enjoy at this time of the year.

Santa Lucia Fair

The Santa Lucia Fair has been one of the unmissable events at Christmas in Bologna for centuries. It has no less than four centuries of history and an incredible atmosphere. Where is it held? In the Strada Maggiore and the portico of the church of Santa Maria dei Servi.

In its dozens of stalls you will find everything to decorate the house for Christmas and also some gifts for your loved ones. Not only that, you can buy typical sweets, such as torrone, made with almonds and honey, a calorie bomb that is nevertheless difficult to resist.

Fiera di Natale

The second Christmas market I recommend is the Fiera di Natale. In its stalls you can also buy ornaments, original gifts and sweets. It will not be difficult to find it, it is located in the heart of Bologna, in Via Altabella, a stone's throw from the Basilica of San Petronio.

Other Christmas markets

You can still make a few more stops on this tour of Bologna's Christmas markets. If you are one of those who enjoy searching and rummaging to find little gems, I recommend you not to miss the Antiques Fair. Here you can find antique items, curiosities and maybe some original gifts.

But if you are looking for really special pieces, leave some time to stroll through San Giuseppe COLORART. What is it? A market that offers only handicraft pieces in materials as varied as leather, fabrics or metals. You'll find this market on via San Giussepe, just a stone's throw from the historic heart of Bologna.

Yes, you don't have to travel to the French Alsace to stroll through one of these beautifully decorated villages. Just head for Piazza Minghetti. There you will find a village with small wooden houses decorated for the occasion. As you can imagine, it is actually another flea market, although very different from the others.

If you are a lover of good food, here you will enjoy much more than you imagine. Your mouth will be watering at the displays filled with some of the best delicacies of French cuisine. See and also taste, because that's what it's all about, offering a small Christmas gift to the palate.

Let yourself be enveloped by the aroma of brioches or the best French cheeses, taste the oysters and champagne, warm up with a mulled wine or buy macarons to give as a gift on your return home. And all this, wrapped in an atmosphere of the most typical in these holidays. Can you ask for more?

Bologna has a long gastronomic tradition and Christmas is a fabulous time to discover it. A good idea to warm up and have a good feast is to take one of the gastronomic tours in Bologna. You will discover a whole world of flavors and aromas.

What delicacies await you? One of the most typical of Bologna is the crescentine, a kind of pastry filled with mortadella (from Bologna, of course), salami or cheese. You can also try tagliatelle al ragù, passatelli (a thick noodle soup perfect for warming up) or cotoletta (breaded veal with slices of Parma ham and cheese on top).

But since we are talking about Christmas, if you have the chance, don't miss the tortellini of capon in broth. Also typical are zampone and cotechino, pork sausages served with a green sauce or mashed potatoes.

And on New Year's Eve, of course, you must eat lentils, which are usually accompanied by these sausages. And for dessert? Panone or certosino, a spiced bread made with honey, nuts, chocolate and spices.

The DiMondi Festival is one of the great cultural events of the city of Bologna. In its winter edition it offers interesting events, many of them coinciding with the Christmas season. Music, sports, theater, games and gastronomic proposals for all tastes and ages come together in this festival.

If any of the events organized within its program coincides with your stay in the city, do not hesitate to stop by Piazza Lucio Dalla, where they take place. Not only are they interesting, they are also free.

By the way, in that same square, there is an ice rink that delights the little ones. With a small curiosity: it is not really ice, but a synthetic material that saves energy.

In Bologna you can experience a very different Christmas and participate as an inhabitant in traditions that are sometimes very old, sometimes very curious. If your visit to the city coincides with the end of the year, don't miss the Vecchione bonfire. What does it consist of? It consists of burning a huge figure of an old man, the Vecchione, at midnight.

This huge doll is the representation of the year that is leaving. The fire takes with it not only the puppet, but also all the bad things of the past year, in the hope that the coming year will be better and you can live freely and without burdens. By the way, every year the figure of the Vecchione is commissioned to a different artist, so there have never been two alike.

This is a relatively recent tradition, dating back to New Year's Eve 1922, but in just a century it has become one of the almost inescapable appointments of Christmas in Bologna. However, it is not a new tradition, this huge doll used to be burned during Carnival.

Where is the Vecchione placed? In Piazza Maggiore, where musical shows are also organized to welcome the new year in style. That is why this is the meeting point for thousands of Bolognese every year to celebrate New Year's Eve.

Epiphany is one of the most beloved holidays for Italians and in Bologna it is lived in a special way with a small procession in which the arrival of the Magi in Jerusalem is remembered. However, the great protagonist of that night is the Befana. Surely you will meet her in the streets on the evening of January 5 and you will find it difficult to identify her.

But fear not, the Befana is not a witch, even if she looks like one and carries a broom. Or, at least, she is a good witch, since she is the character who leaves candy, sweets and gifts to children who have behaved well.

By the way, while we are talking about gifts, a little tip: if you have to shop, don't leave it to the last minute. The days leading up to that magical night the stores are usually quite crowded and you can lose precious time to enjoy the city.

Visiting the best museums in Bologna is always a good idea. At Christmas time they are not only open, but many of them prepare special exhibitions or activities that are always interesting. Therefore, it is worth leaving a few hours to visit them or take advantage of a day when the weather is particularly inclement.

If you are traveling to Bologna with children, a good plan is to visit the Museum of Prehistory Donini. At Christmas, in addition to learning what this area was like thousands of years ago and discovering its inhabitants, they can participate in workshops and recreational activities that will make them have a good time.

But if there are museums that are equally popular with young and old, it is those dedicated to the automotive world. We must not forget that in this area of Italy were born some of the great manufacturers of super luxury vehicles, such as Ferrari or Lamborghini. Visiting the best car museums in Bologna will be an incredible experience for everyone, for sure!

And if you are looking for cultural experiences, you will have already realized that in Bologna there is art in almost every corner. That's why you can take shelter from the cold at the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna, the Museum of Modern Art or the Museum of the History of Bologna. In any of them you will enjoy admiring all the treasures they hold.

If your visit to Bologna is for several days, my advice is to take the opportunity to visit cities that are within easy reach of Bologna. There are many day trips from Bologna.

You will love the Christmas atmosphere of Modena, Ferrara or Ravenna, so similar, but at the same time different from that of Bologna. And, by the way, you will discover these monumental cities, which keep spectacular corners and monuments.

If you are thinking that it might be too tiring a plan, nothing could be further from the truth. Modena and Ferrara are only 50 kilometers from Bologna and can be reached in less than an hour. Ravenna is a bit farther, but not much more, just 80 kilometers away.

Bologna is always a welcoming city, so you will feel almost at home here. However, before traveling at Christmas, it is important that you take into account some tips:

• Wear warm clothes because winters are cold. In fact, the average temperature in December is around 4 ºC and the maximum temperatures are around 8 ºC. To this must be added the humidity, which makes the feeling of cold intensifies quite a lot.

• If you plan to visit a museum, check the website for opening hours and days. Take advantage and see if they organize any special activity or exhibition, especially if you are traveling with children - Christmas is a time of great tourist influx, therefore, the recommendation is to book in advance for both visits to museums and monuments and restaurants - If there is a great time to take a tour in one of the tourist buses in Bologna, that is Christmas. Traveling in a panoramic vehicle is one of the best ways to enjoy the atmosphere and the magic of the city dressed in its finery - Bologna' s cultural agenda at Christmas is extensive. It includes everything from concerts of all kinds to theatrical performances, exhibitions and countless activities for children. If you are staying in the city for several days, I recommend you to check the program, you are sure to find an event of your interest.