The Piazza Navona Christmas market

23. Aug, 2010 0 Comments

Piazza Navona in december.Photo by Antmoose via Flickr.

The Piazza Navona Christmas marketRome’s famous Navona square hosts a pleasant market with Christmas gifts and souvenirs each year. Children will especially love this as the market is filled with toys, costumed Santa Clauses and usually also a merry-go-round. Parents can enjoy the market stalls offering various sorts of chocolate, the musicians playing Christmas tunes and the extensive display of lights and decorations.

Souvenir shopping

If you’re souvenir-hunting then Piazza Navona is definitely the place to be. Keep on the look out for hand-made handkerchiefs, miniature figurines for nativity scenes, and a lot of other hand-made merchandise for sale. Those who like sweets and snacks can enjoy toffee and nougat – made right on the spot – and roast chestnuts.

La Befana

Besides Santa Claus you can also see La Befana – the gift-giving Christmas witch – at Piazza Navona. It’s a folkloric tradition which which originates from central Italy.

According to legend, the three wise men asked La Befana for directions to Bethlehem (where they would eventually meet baby Jesus). They asked La Befana to join them on their journey, but she refused. When a band of angels finally convinced her to follow the three wise men, it was already too late. La Befana never found the child of Christ, and has searched for it ever since.

La Befana shares many similarities with Santa Claus. They both descend down chimneys to drop off presents and sweets for children, for example, and people leave snacks for her during the night. Also important to know: Santa Claus is called Babbo Natale (Father Christmas) in Italy!