Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Numerous solidarity initiatives for the city and thousands of free games that children will receive on December 25th in Santa's house - Photo gallery

Milan, 2 December 2021 – With a symbolic ribbon cutting, the traditional "Christmas Market" kicked off today, after the stop in 2020 due to Covid, in Piazza Duomo. Created by ATI promoter Prisma and Apeca (Confcommercio Milano street vendors association), it will be open from 8am to 30pm for the entire duration of the Christmas holidays, until January 22th. Milanese and tourists will find 6 huts decorated with branches, red festoons and lights waiting for them and 34 displays ready with the right gift idea among the excellent artisan products and the best gastronomic specialties of the holidays.

The inauguration in front of Santa Claus' house (the 35th and largest of all) was attended by the Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala, the councilor for Economic Development and Labor Policies, Alessia Cappello, the president of Confcommercio, Carlo Sangalli and the president of Apeca, Giacomo Errico. 

"Since last September, with the Salone del Mobile, – said the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala – the city has regained its most important and beloved events week after week, marking a gradual but decisive resumption of all its cultural activities , sporting and commercial. Now Christmas gives us, it must be said, the opportunity for a new step forward. We have asked everyone to pay maximum attention to the rules, so that this moment can be a source of joy and serenity and the markets will be the opportunity to go back to enjoying the holidays with the right atmosphere".

"After the success of the lights which will cover a number of kilometers never reached before – said the councilor for Economic Development, Alessia Cappello – we are happy to be able to once again have the Christmas Market here in Piazza Duomo. The houses are have been arranged according to the scheme of previous years, introducing the safety regulations necessary for the holding of the open-air markets. The variety of the goods on offer, thanks to the excellent work done by Apeca in the selection of exhibitors, will certainly attract many Milanese and tourists I thank the organizers for the solidarity initiatives that will characterize this year's edition with the donations to the Veneranda factory of the Duomo and to those in the city who are committed to the good of those most in need." 
 
"The lights of the Christmas Market which are turned back on after two years – declared the president of Confcommercio, Carlo Sangalli – are truly a sign of new hope for a Milan determined to find the path to normality and economic recovery".  
 
"The Christmas Market has finally returned and this is a very important first result – underlines Giacomo Errico, president of Apeca – A market that is now part of the tradition of typical Christmas markets: it constitutes a point of attraction with a high quality offer in a safe and usable market area. Our commitment is maximum to ensure that in these still very delicate days due to the progress of the pandemic there is absolute tranquility for families and consumers".

Milanese and tourists will find a wide and diversified product offering. In the non-food sector there will be ceramics and various objects, Spanish and Ecuadorian craftsmanship, ethnic fabrics, artisanal hats, fashionable and traditional Tyrolean-South Tyrolean accessories, clothing accessories, costume jewelery and jewels. You can also find home accessories, glassware and crystal from the Venetian tradition, gift ideas in wood and engraved stones, eco-products in vegetable ivory.

There are also perfumes and essences from Provence, cosmetic products. Finally, there will be no shortage of figurines and decorations for the nativity scene of the Neapolitan tradition and decorations for the Christmas tree and for the home.

In the food sector you can find dates and Iranian saffron, chocolate, brittle, pralines, Boeri and gianduiotti from Piedmont, nougat from Cremona, Campania confectionery, covered fruit, honey and royal jelly, typical sweet and savory Sicilian products, Lombard and French cheeses , Swiss and Piedmontese, bresaola and other cured meats, typical products from Bergamo, Umbria, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily and Tyrolean specialties with the characteristic Russian pretzels, vodka and caviar. And also truffles, balsamic vinegar, tuna, bottarga and smoked fish, cured meats and cheeses from Norcia and Amatrice. There will also be a wide choice of artisanal panettone.

As required by the anti-Covid legislation, great attention to protective devices: the points of sale will make sanitizing gel and masks available to visitors. Market operators (in possession of green passes) will wear masks.

The Christmas Market in Piazza Duomo is also characterized by solidarity. The organizers will donate 200 thousand euros to the Fabbrica del Duomo; 40 thousand euros to the Cancer Institute; 10 thousand euros respectively to the Casa della Carità, the Life Help Center of the Mangiagalli Clinic and the Mariuccia Asilo Foundation, the historic Milanese institution that helps the little ones. For children who write a letter to Santa Claus, 20 thousand euros worth of games will be purchased. On the morning of December 25th, in front of Santa Claus' house, they will receive the gift they requested and included in the letter sent.

The Christmas Market will also be "green" with a significant gesture for the city: 10 thousand euros will be donated for the planting and care of new plane trees in a peripheral area of ​​the city.