In Bolzano between the Christkindlmarkt stalls and the first skiing in Obereggen

The Advent atmosphere is back and with it the delightful Christmas markets. In Bolzano, where it all began, you cannot fail to stop at Piazza Walther and the nearby Renon. But the snow and the first skiing are also back, and among the starter destinations on 29 November is Obereggen, just 20 minutes from Bolzano.

The anticipation is already in the air, and Bolzano is ready to deliver the magic with one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year, the Christkindlmarkt, the traditional Christmas Market (the first in Italy): On 28 November at 5 p.m., at Piazza Walther, the city's 'good living room', to witness the switching on of the over 1300 lights of the large 'Wishing Tree' (20 metres), decorated once again this year by the beautiful decorations reproducing the works created by children and young people in hospital care during the ceramic-therapy workshops offered by the Lene Thun Foundation. A moment of choral joy that involves the entire city and offers a truly unique sensory experience, amidst the scents of cinnamon, sweets and mulled wine, the magic of the lights and the bright colours of the little wooden houses, the Christmas carols that resound in the streets, the notes of the alpine horn players and the cheerful voices of the children that enliven the atmosphere. Strolling around the stalls is an enchantment for the eyes: it is impossible not to be captivated by the trinkets and cloth slippers hanging from the ceilings of the little wooden houses, the fanciful decorations, embroidered tablecloths, lanterns, music boxes, angels, nativity scenes and figurines. And among the wooden chalets offering artistic handicrafts and gastronomic delights, South Tyrolean speck and sausages, pancakes, apple juice and strudel, there are also the Wine Lounges with a selection of indigenous wines. This year, the Christmas Park extends along Via Isarco (near the cathedral) to the Capuchin Park with a further 18 stalls. From 29 December on the Renon Plateau, on the other hand, one can immerse oneself in the enchanted world of the Trenatale, the traditional Christmas market, away from the hustle and bustle among the twinkling stars, coloured balls, soft lights and Christmas carols, in a more intimate setting, which has an antique yet extraordinary beauty. From 29 November to 5 January (always only Friday afternoons and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), it welcomes young and old alike. It can be reached in just 12 minutes by cable car from Bolzano to Soprabolzano.

Obereggen (-Bolzano Nord exit of the A22 Brenner motorway), better known as the mountain of Bolzano, one of the hearts of the Latemar ski area (with its Trentino sisters Pampeago and Predazzo) will be the first of the 12 valleys of the Dolomiti Superski international ski carousel to celebrate 50 years since its establishment. As a tribute to it and to the prestigious anniversary, Obereggen will open the turnstiles on Friday, 29 November both at 8:30 a.m. and at night with the first night skiing at 7 p.m. and a final party at the Apres Ski Loox down the historic Oberholz slope. This year there is a special promotion for junior skiers (up to the age of 18). It was the year 1970 when 11 young men joined forces to create a new ski area by founding the Obereggen Cable Car Company) At that time, Obereggen had a handful of houses and only one hotel with 20 beds. It seemed an impossible feat but, with the support of the families of the Val d'Ega, they managed to get the historic Oberholz chairlift into operation in the winter of 1972. It was 14 November 1974 when the six cableway consortia from the areas of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena-Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa-Carezza and Arabba formed the Superski Dolomiti Association. This was the beginning of an entrepreneurial success story, an Italian excellence taken as an example throughout the world in the cableway and tourism sector, which half a century later, continues to play an important role in the civil society of the provinces of Trento, Bolzano and Belluno. In 1975, with the expansion of connections to the nearby Trentino valleys and new lifts, the Ski Centre Latemar was born, one of the first to join the Dolomitisuperski. Fans should not miss the 41st edition of the Obereggen European Cup, the Kitzbuel of the European Cup, scheduled for Monday 16 December 2024, a prologue to the World Cup races in Val Gardena and Alta Badia.