CHRISTMAS MARKETS BY MOTORCYCLE: STAGES ON TWO WHEELS AMONG THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERES OF THE CHRISTMAS ADVENT

The month of December accompanies us day by day to the Christmas period and is always synonymous with holidays, colored lights, themed decorations and markets. For this reason, the Roadsitalia magazine will try to give you some advice - taking advantage of the holidays - by suggesting some motorbike rides among the Christmas markets. Typical candy and sweets, mulled wine, advent wreaths and unique pieces of craftsmanship for the tree (or the nativity scene), incredibly invade stalls and markets, becoming protagonists at every Christmas occasion. The Christmas markets have a tradition of over a hundred years: they seem to have originated between Germany and Alsace in the Middle Ages. The first market in history was in fact held in Dresden in 1434 and was a kind of square exhibition where local artisans exhibited their artifacts for the advent period and the nativity.

Over time, the recurrence of the Christmas markets has spread throughout Europe, also becoming a tourist attraction. It is no coincidence that from the 70s and 80s onwards, it was increasingly fashionable to participate in one of the many Bus Tours of the Christmas markets, organized by the tour operators of the time. Today, although organized bus trips still exist, own means are preferred. That's why on a motorbike tour of the Christmas markets it seemed like a perfectly appropriate idea for this December 2021. We will start with the most famous ones in Italy to then give you some suggestions across the border.

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CHRISTMAS MARKETS BY MOTORCYCLE: THE ADVICE OF ROADSITALIA

Surely traveling the Christmas markets on a motorbike cannot be defined as an itinerary, but more like a trip outside the city to fully breathe the Christmas atmosphere. The best-known markets on the national scene are those of South Tyrol, in particular that of Bolzano (the longest and largest in Italy), followed by Merano, Brunico, Bressanone and Vipiteno. It must also be said that the typically mountain context of the latter and the frequent snow make the atmosphere around the Christmas markets even more romantic and fairy-tale. More recently, even the main Italian cities and many other villages have followed this tradition, personalizing their proposal around the Christmas markets with their own culinary traditions, evening appointments and ice rinks.

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Among them we cannot fail to mention a few. For example Turin - with the Christmas markets among the largest in Italy - set among its historic buildings and which boasts an ancient confectionery tradition. Milan follows with the Artigiano in Fiera, which reopens its doors post-covid in 2021. Among the smaller provinces we suggest instead Como (which turns into the City of Toys for the occasion), the Mantua Christmas markets in the suggestive Piazza Virgiliana and those of Verona. Further south, we cannot fail to mention Rome and Naples. The Italian capital can only be the perfect backdrop for the 2021 Roman markets, located in different squares and areas of the Eternal City. Naples on the other hand (which prepares almost 12 months before the event) has a strong tradition for nativity scenes and has the peculiarity of not setting up a market, but rather an entire fixed area of ​​the city center to celebrate the advent of Christmas.

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CHRISTMAS MARKETS ABROAD BY MOTORCYCLE

As for abroad, however, the choice on which Christmas markets to visit by motorbike is expanding dramatically. We will limit ourselves to the best known and most famous, located here and there in central Europe. Let's start then with the Christmas markets of Alsace and Strasbourg, passing through neighboring Switzerland with the Christkindlesmarkt of Zurich, Basel and Montreux. Looking east instead towards the Austrian border with Italy, we cannot forget the fascinating markets of Innsbruck, Vienna and Prague, reachable through South Tyrol.

Vienna in particular, the ancient Central European gate of the old continent, is transformed for the advent into a fairy-tale country in celebration. For 7 centuries it has hosted the Wiener Christkindlmark which dates back to 1296, with the first authorization by the Emperor Albrecht I. In the rankings dedicated to flea markets, Germany always represents the top of the ranking. We cannot actually close the article without suggesting Nuremberg (the largest German market and one of the oldest toy capitals in the world) together with Munich's Christkindlmarks. The Munich markets are very special because they are inaugurated and closed with a traditional ceremony that is also very popular on television. And you? Have you ever visited the Italian or foreign Christmas markets on your motorbike? Let us know in the comments below.