Christmas market special 2023
This year there are an infinite number of Christmas markets. There are historical ones and improvised ones, those outdoors in the squares - the most beautiful in Rome - and those inside historic buildings. There are the artisan markets, our favourites, and the hyper-specialised ones like the Japanese or the Paper market dedicated entirely to paper, right through to the Accessible Gift Fair which have aun under 50 euro price policy.
We don’t claim to know them all, and indeed we ask for your help if we have missed any important ones. Our traditional guide to the Christmas markets starts on December 1st like every Advent calendar and is a work in progress. Send us your reports to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. In the photo above Barbara with her colorful paper creations, which you will find at the Gift Land of the Vintage Market.
Among the first to set up their stalls, as they have in recent years, is PIAZZA MAZZINI CHRISTMAS MARKET is a festive version of the antiques market which takes place on the first and third Sunday of the month. It is a market that we have been following for a long time: the atmosphere is joyful and the setting is very beautiful, with a wide variety of options: in addition to Christmas objects (decorations, ceramics, music boxes) there are gift ideas (from pasheminas to herbalist's shop, from regional gastronomic specialties to wooden artefacts), and some of the usual sellers offer a Christmas version of their antique furniture. Since last year the setup has been marvelous with these beautiful recycled wood houses. You will find some historic craftsmen such as Susanna who works all year round to create her wooden artefacts to decorate the house or Massimo alias Kosedautore with his embroidered gloves, sculptured shawls, embroiderd wool hats made with the needle technique of punching, silk necklaces, shoulder bags and bags or Daniela and her marvellous lamps (photo).
Piazza Mazzini
From 1st to 30th December, from 9am to 7.30pm
The most famous Christmas market is the Befana market in Piazza Navona wich embodies tradition perfectly. Every Roman has a memory linked to the Christmas themed stalls which for more than a month enrich one of the most beautiful squares in the city, if not the most beautiful of all. From December 1st we return to the square in the wooden houses among gift ideas, artisan products and sweets to fill the stocking for the biggest celebration the Epiphany on January the 6th which is the final celebration. Not before watching a show dedicated to the little ones with the the magical old lady on the broom. Among our favorite stalls are the puppet and nativity scene stalls.
Piazza Navona
From morning to late evening
1 December – 6 January
GiftLand, organized by the Vintage Market in Piazza Ragusain the former Atac warehouse for 11 days, is the right place to find the perfect gift. The December dates are: the 2-3; 8-9-10; 4-5pm from 10am to 8pm. The space is really large and festive, you can even bump into Santa Claus. With 200 exhibitors from all over Italy in an area of 6000 square meters (shared with the Farmer's Market) and offering the largest assortment of gifts ever seen: local craftsmanship, artists and illustrators, vintage, designers and stylists, vinyls and books, clothing, children's games, organic cosmetics, Christmas decorations, plants and flowers, artisanal panettone and Christmas sweets. There is also a kids area (where kids will also be able to "see" with their own eyes how some products are made), live sets and a refreshment corner. Among the exhibitors some of our old acquaintances: Virginia and her Podobis puppets; Simone and his truly passion for cinema which is transformed into t-shirts, posters etc.; Lucio and his magnificent hats (photo above); Massimo Junk design; Barbara and her beautiful paper creations; Daniele Velabrega and his wrought iron people; the florist Toni.
Via Tuscolana 179
2/3 8/9/10 16/17 dicembre 10:00-20:00
The Green Market festival organizes many events around the city: on the 2nd and 3th December there is a Green Christmas at Serra Madre (via di Macchia Palocco) and another event at the Christmas Garden at Giardino Verano; on the 8th, 9th and 10th December the Green Market festival on Christmas is at the Città dell'Altra Economia (Testaccio).
If the area is more convenient for you, on Sunday you can go to San Lorenzo instead for the Eco & Chic Market in Piazza Dell'Immacolata. The central weekend of December is spent at the Oasi Cestia Eco-Market @ Christmas, Viale Della Piramide Cestia or at the Casa Internazionale delle Donne in Trastevere (via della Lungara) where Les Femmes à Noël - the Women's Christmas - takes place. And for some last minute shopping:22-23-24 December here is the Solidarity Christmas, in the City of the Other Economy (Testaccio). The jewelery artist, the goldsmith Flavia (in the photo above) can be found on the 2-3 at the Verano Gardens, on the 8-9-10 December at the City of the Other Economy and on the 16th and 17th at the Piramide Park.
Organized by Faenas factory, The Artists' market in the heart of Garbatella accompanies you until the day before Christmas, from Saturday the 16th to Saturday the 23rd from 10.00 to 20.00 at Parco Desiderio Nobles (Piazza Sant'Eurosia). In addition to the various artisans marketstalls including our friend Steffi and her colorful bags (as well as many other fabric productions) there are various workshops. From the 18th to the 21st a nativity scene will be set up with the characters created by the children, on Monday the 18th there will be a music workshop, on Wednesday 20th Christmas themed readings while on the 22nd and 23rd the professional elves will teach the young apprentices to make a wooden toy. A market that our Alice would really like.
At FusoLab for FRA' – Accessible Gift Fair you find a fair dedicated to low-cost (each object costs strictly less than or equal to 50 euros) and self-produced gifts (everything on display is made and packaged by the exhibitors) among others there is Bibihatroppespese (check her page for ricycled beautiful fabric jewellery). Five very intense days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8 -9 - 10 December 2023 and Saturday and Sunday 16 - 17 December 2023 in a new 900m2 indoor space divided into five "gift areas": creative craftsmanship, organic products and food and wine, illustration and publishing, nature and well-being. Many workshops and entertainment for children organized by the SUPERS staff; the fourth edition of "Santa's Little Helpers" - Gift collection, virtual reality tour, collection of letters and wishes, photo corner. The now mythological FRA' Christmas raffle with the ineffable prize draw on January 6th (we don't know which year), the proceeds will be donated to the Isla'ng'bata association. The music is provided by Radio Last Christmas (the radio station that broadcasts Wham's Last Chistmas 24 hours a day) and on Saturday 9th and 16th December there will be guests for the afternoon/evening soundtrack featuring the friends of Capperi (Capperi is concerts, music and picking your nose ) with KOCLEO.
Fusolab Viale della Bella Villa 94
The Japanese Christmas market - Japan days provides lots of shopping, traditional culture with 120 exhibitors, Food & drinks made in Japan where you will find not only sushi but also the cornerstones of Japanese street cuisine including takoyaki, gyoza, ebifurai, korokke and karē, express onigiri, a refined variety of Sake, Whiskey and spirits and of course dorayaki, a typical Japanese snack. Traditional Japanese shows from martial arts to practical demonstrations on bonsai arts, concerts, the Samurai comic theatre, workshops and laboratories, the tea ceremony and for children a creative micro sewing workshop that will allow them to create their favorite rag doll anime themed or an origami course.
Viale dell'Oceano Atlantico, 271D
9-10 December from 10.00 to 19.30
Entrance €5 on site, free up to 12 years and there is a 2-day pass €8
Hippie Market & Ficus at most doubles the appointment in front of the Circus Maximus for the hunt for Christmas gifts with over 2,000 gift ideas. Two floors and a courtyard with many stalls dedicated to crafts, home decoration, fashion, illustrations, vintage, flowers and plants. Among the many exhibitors there is Alessandra (pictured above) and her creations between nature and art which in the previous two weekends you found at the Vintage Market.
9-10 December and 16-17 from 10.30 to 21.00
Garum Museo della cucina - Via dei Cerchi 87
At the Paper market on December 10th you can find every form of paper creation: thirty exhibitors but also events such as the presentation of the book The Divine Tourist (Leporello Books) by Daniele Villa Zorn and the talk about design with Naessi studio and MINT LIST "Vista and magazine" and will be dedicated to the world of architecture and design magazines. A party dedicated to independent publishing and illustration, graphic design and creativity on paper. A small market fair that collects art prints, posters and independent paper publications including artist books, catalogues, graphic design projects, magazines and zines. Among the exhibitors there is the illustrator and graphic designer Giulia Belcastro (in the picture) who creates unique jewels starting from her illustrations.
MONK Rome via Giuseppe Mirri 35, Rome
from 11.30am to 8pm, free entry
The 3rd, 10th and 17th December from 10am to 7pm are the special Sundays dedicated to Christmas shopping at the historic BORGHETTO FLAMINIO MARKET, it was started almost thirty years ago by two friends who were avid collectors of historic clothes, Enrico Quinto and Paolo Tinarelli. Every Sunday is a surprise. The Piazza della Marina Market has always been an unusual and fun place to buy gifts at. Among hobby second-hand dealers, well-known faces and unexpected encounters, in a cosmopolitan atmosphere reminiscent of international flea markets, vintage lovers, bric-à-brac, modern art and antiques will find many stands full of rare objects and curiosities: Christmas décor for the table and the home, rare souvenirs of exotic travels, early twentieth century Christmas cards and greeting postcards, scented candles, designer evening dresses to show off on New Year's Eve, scarves, hats and cashmere pullovers, vintage coats, trendy tartan jackets and Scottish kilts, extravagant trouvaille and collectible memorabilia that cannot be found elsewhere.
After the holidays they return on Sunday 7 January with the "Recycling Day" event. On the banquets the most useless and kitsch Christmas gifts and much more. For a relaxing lunch sitting at the outdoor tables inside the market, the Bufala Punto eat foodtruck with gourmet recipes, mozzarella and Cilento products.
3rd, 10th and 17th from 10am to 7pm from 10am to 7pm
Marina Square 32