Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Tajani: "Thanks to this operation we commercially enhance the city center during the holidays and contribute to maintaining the symbol of Milan, as well as guaranteeing support for various charities in the city"

Milan, 2 December 2019 – It was inaugurated today with the symbolic cutting of the ribbon in the presence of the Mayor Giuseppe Sala, the President of Confcommercio Carlo Sangalli, the Councilor for Labor Policies, Productive Activities and Commerce of the Municipality of Milan Cristina Tajani and the President of Apeca ( Confcommercio Milano street vendors association) Giacomo Errico, the traditional “Christmas Market” around the Duomo which started on Sunday 1st December and will continue throughout the Christmas holidays until 6th January.

“Thanks to this operation - comments the councilor for Labor Policies, Productive Activities and Commerce Cristina Tajani - we combine important priorities for the Administration, such as the commercial and tourist enhancement of the city center during the traditional Christmas holidays and, at the same time, we raise awareness among the world of commerce and citizens to contribute to the maintenance and conservation of the symbol of the city, the Duomo. The market is an event that has now become part of the Milanese Christmas tradition and offers many people the opportunity to purchase handicraft products from all over Italy."
The "Christmas Market" sees 65 commercial businesses involved in a public area located in Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (Rinascente side) and behind the Duomo (Campo Santo and via Carlo Maria Martini - the former Via Arcivescovado). The characteristic small wooden huts welcome visitors, recalling the landscapes of northern Europe and transmitting the full atmosphere of the Christmas period to Milanese people and tourists.

The "Christmas Market" is open every day from 8am to 30pm and is characterized - in the wake of the experience of the European Market spread throughout Italy by the Apeca-Fiva Confcommercio street vendors - by the rich product offering: from specialties food and wine to the many excellent traditional and artisanal products. From truffles, to caviar, to regional specialties from north to south Italy (from Veneto to Amatrice and Norcia, from Puglia to Sicily) there is an offer for all tastes in food products. And in the non-food sector at the Christmas Market you really can find every possible idea for original gift ideas: for example the ceramic objects from Thun or the artisan nativity scenes of the Neapolitan tradition, the costume jewellery, the porcelain, the scented candles and the decorations, the toys and home accessories and clothing.

“The Christmas Market – declares Carlo Sangalli, president of Confcommercio Milan – is a small fair in the shadow of the Duomo. It is a positive example of public-private collaboration and at the same time fits in with balance in the vast Milanese commercial offer, creating new value. It is certainly attractive for our city, but it also promotes the territories of origin of the goods on display. Without forgetting the increasingly relevant aspect of concrete solidarity as in the best Ambrosian tradition".

“The 'Christmas Market' increasingly stands out as a point of attraction for citizens and tourists with a high quality product offering – states the president of Apeca Giacomo Errico – Milan has conquered the place it deserves, on a par with the major Central European cities, in the tradition of the characteristic Christmas markets. This year we also managed to bring forward its start to the beginning of December. We will continue to work to increasingly improve this excellence for the city: a market that is also attentive to social and charitable purposes".

The "Christmas Market" contributes, in fact, to solidarity and research initiatives. This year too, 40 thousand euros are donated to the Cancer Institute. Ten thousand euros are allocated to the Mangiagalli Clinic (to provide support and psychological assistance to mothers in difficulty and their children); 10 thousand euros to the Mariuccia nursery school, a Milanese institution that helps the little ones; 10 thousand euros to Don Virginio Colmegna's House of Charity. And the donation, this year of 200 thousand euros, to the Veneranda fabbrica del Duomo for the restoration and conservation of the cathedral is confirmed.

In this year's "Christmas Market" solidarity also by purchasing products in the house of the National Alpine Association: sparkling white wine, panettone and pandoro. The proceeds will be allocated to the areas hit hard by the Vaia storm and to the Nikolajewka School in Brescia (which offers social and health services and specializes in assisting people with motor disabilities). Information on the websiteNational Alpine Association.

The Milanese "Christmas Market" is designed to be a place tailor-made for families. In fact, throughout the opening period there will be many activities aimed at younger visitors: puppet theatre, face painting and creativity workshops (where Christmas objects made from recycled materials are used), magic shows, jugglers, fairy tale telling , learn to put "your hands in the dough" and make bread with the help of the Masters of the Bakers Association. Until Epiphany day. And the sounds of the Christmas tradition cannot be missed at the "Christmas Market".

A "Christmas Market" attentive to respect for the environment: all children who come will be given a reusable water bottle. There is also a water dispenser (filtered and added) available to visitors free of charge.