GUEST AUTHOR: Aida Loggiodice, Spotahome Student Ambassador
Not home for the holidays? I got you. The Christmas season is one of the most beautiful in the year and yet painfully depressing if you’re not around family or loved ones to celebrate it. So, if you’re in Milan and are wondering what to do with yourself here’s a list of day trips you can take to make yourself feel more at home during the holidays:
Como
Como is a beautiful city set by the lake just 30 minutes away from Milan. Its picturesque landscape and adorable little streets render it the perfect place for a Saturday afternoon stroll (since you can also check out the city’s market that day!) Filled with all types of goodies from handmade socks to homemade cheese, you might also just find George Clooney wandering the streets because he just so happens to own a house there. Anyone fancy a Nespresso?
Apart from this customary market though, there will be a Christmas market opening from the 25th of November until the 7th of January at the Piazza Cavour! Come to enjoy traditional Italian products to take back home or to appreciate the famous wooden houses of the “Toys Town”, a memory you’ll be sure to cherish forever.
Source: Eatdresstravel
Crema
Sounds familiar? You might recognize this city if you’ve ever seen “Call Me by Your Name”. Though a very small town just 45 minutes away from Milan, its people are immensely proud of the fact they appear in the award-winning film and the town certainly does have an undeniable charm that makes it worth seeing.
From the 6th until the 12th of December there will be a noteworthy Christmas market on display at the town’s historical center. You’ll find yourself surrounded by enchanting decorations and dozens of stands offering anything from gastronomic wonders to incredible gift ideas. The perfect event to find that perfect Christmas present for that special someone, if you ask me.
Source: Il turista
Bellinzona
Okay, this one is a little further away and you do have to cross a border to get there but this quaint Swiss city is so worth the 1-and-a-half-hour train ride. The original capital of the only Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Bellinzona boasts an incredible line of old castles and walls since it used to be an important medieval town in its time making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Situated at the train station/historical center of Bellinzona, the Christmas market offers high-quality, original gifts from true artisans working in glass, wood or ceramic. And of course, neither traditional Swiss chocolate nor vin brulé will be hard to find here. This year this exceptional market will take place on two separate Sundays: the 16th and the 23rd of December so save the dates!
Gardaland
Gardaland is one of the best amusement parks in Italy just a mere two hours away from our beloved Milan. Not only that, but every year they outdo themselves during the Christmas season with their“Gardaland Magic Winter"ongoing event. Starting from the 8th of December until the 6th of January, the park transforms itself into a winter wonderland full of lights, decorations and special shows. They even set up an ice-skating ring and a playground for children AKA me with (albeit, fake) snow. Special bonus: if you show up to the park dressed as Santa Claus on December 8th you will get in at the discounted price of 15 euros!
Source: Flickr
Torino
Perhaps the city that offers the most Christmas-y holiday opportunities is Milan’s best friend, Torino. Well-known for its abundance of breathtaking chapels and churches, it is a must see if you’re a history or theater geek or maybe even both!
All markets will open on the 24th of November but close at different dates. Those closing the 23rd of December are the ones located at Cortile del Maglio and the one In Piazza Santa Rita. The ones closing the 6th of January are at Piazza Castello and Piazza Solferino. All offer a wide variety of products certain to keep any member of your family satisfied; from your grandmother to your little brother to your second cousin once removed to your great-aunt’s best friend’s dog’s… Well, you get the idea.
So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and soak in the holiday spirit. After all, it only comes once a year! And who knows? You might even just feel less lonely.
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