Trento Christmas Markets are officially open up to Epiphany. Here's what to eat among the stands, in the city, what to see and how to get there (dodging the crowd). Our survival guide to the Christmas markets of Trento, here it is!
Between rivers of mulled wine and polenta dishes, Saturday, November 24th there was the ribbon cutting of the Christmas markets in Trento, which will remain open in Piazza Fiera and Piazza Cesare Battisti until 6 January 2019. Among the small wooden houses, 92 in all, is a continuous coming and going of people hunting for sweet or savory pretzels, empty or stuffed; potato tortel, dumplings in broth or seasoned, sandwiches and focaccia, zelten or linzer cakes. These are just some of the many delicacies that you can taste among the open-air stalls. To warm up, steaming cups of wine or hot chocolate. Two new features this year: the market of agricultural products run by Coldiretti in Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore and the Ferris wheel inaugurated in Piazza Dante.
What do you eat at Trento Christmas Markets?
For lovers of regional cuisine, the fulcrum of the gastronomic stalls it is Piazza Fiera. Here, in the outermost row there are the houses dedicated to local crafts, while in the central one the restaurateurs from different areas of Trentino are concentrated. Ai Frati Embriaghi the strong dish is the polenta, served with porcini, venison, sausage, cheese or a combination of these ingredients. At the Raclette's cottage also the potato tortel it's great. The typical pancake, not to be confused with the South Tyrolean rösti, is eaten served with fontina and speck or other cured meats. At the Chalet of the Canederli There are various types of these big dumplings made with stale bread. In addition to the most classic speck, you can also find those with red turnip or spinach.
Who wants, can take them home in vacuum packs. The best brezel is that of the Modern Bakery, where you can also find various types of bread with the most varied wholemeal flours. For the sweet go to theCorner of the strudel. To end with beauty, especially in case of particularly cold temperatures, it is advisable to drink a "Parampampoli", secret mixture invented by the innkeeper of Rifugio Crucolo della Val Campelle, with a strong flavor, halfway between coffee, grappa, wine and caramelized sugar.
Christmas shopping, what to buy in the wooden houses?
In addition to tasting you can of course also buy. For the cheeses there is the stand of the Concast consortium, which brings together 17 dairies that process the milk of 700 Trentino farmers. Here are the Spressa delle Giudicarie, the Nostrano di Trento, the Brenta di Pinzolo and the Fontal Trentino. The little house where to buy it speck it is not difficult to identify. The sign is that of Fratelli Corrà, which propose various types. From the "imperial cut", to the "Verdés" selection, to the "heart". Other interesting stalls are Trentino Herbs, where you can buy teas, infusions and herbal teas, packed in glass jars to better keep the aromas. The Apple Farm, where to buy the dehydrated fruit in bags, in addition to fresh and processed (in this case in strudel). Last but not least the house of the Grappa from Trentino Villa de Varda, craft distillery, which also produces barricades-reserves and preserves the ancient recipe of Amaro Trentino.
Not just markets: what to see in Trento
In Trento, the Christmas Market is a tradition that has been renewed for 25 years. The party atmosphere that reigns among the streets of the historical center is made of lights and perfumes, with the snow-capped mountains to frame. One more reason to stop in a city already full of attractions, like the Renzo Piano Museum of Natural Sciences (Muse) or the Castle of the Good Council. Not to mention the dishes and local typical of the area. At about thirty kilometers then there is the Val di Non, famous for apples, ciderries and also the "Mortandela smoked", typical salami that is also Slow Food Presidium. For those without a car, or time, a few meters from Piazza Fiera, in the scenic Roccabruna palace the provincial wine shop of Trentino is located, where you can taste all the various oenological specialties of the area, from the Trentodoc bubbles to the sweet Vino Santo.
Visit Trento, practical tips
Trento is not one of those places where one happens by chance. One goes there for a reason. Whether they are the Christmas Markets or a winter holiday. Although getting there is not that difficult. The city is not very big, you can easily go around on foot the train option is more than valid. It is only necessary to account for at least one change. The advantage is that once you arrive there will be no parking problems. There are daily direct connections to Munich, Bolzano, Verona, Venice, Rome and Naples. From the central station you can walk to the historic center in 5 minutes. For those who have in mind, instead, a tour in the surrounding valleys, then the car could be indispensable. In this case, there is no shortage of parking spaces, the largest being the Trento Expo exhibition center.
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