The most magical season of the year envelops with its colors, scents and typical flavors enchanting towns and villages scattered throughout the Bel Paese, warming the hearts of visitors and locals at the same time. The beauty of Christmas is accompanied by the typical specialties of Italian food and wine. Let’s discover below some of the typical delicacies that can be tasted in the most enchanting villages of Northern Italy.
Ricetto di Candelo – Photo by Marco Fine/shutterstock
San Candido, the pearl that shines even brighter at Christmas
Trentino-South Tyrol has always been synonymous with Christmas markets: here many towns, large and small, can boast a variety of Christmas traditions, which begin as early as the end of November. Germanic-derived customs, among which Advent Sundays certainly stand out, are respected and find an unprecedented fusion with Italian ones.
Undoubtedly San Candido represents one of the gems of the entire region: besides being a spectacular village, in this town almost on the border with Austria it is possible to try many typical Christmas specialties that warm the body and soul in the cold, but joyful, evenings preceding the most magical holiday of the year.
In San Candido, in addition to strolling through the colorful markets, whose stalls offer the chance to buy fine local handicrafts and wonderful decorations, you cannot fail to try the delicious food specialties. These include highly sought-after cookies, similar to the Sienese gingerbread, which are called Lebkuchen here, as well as Zelten, the classic sweet fruit bread of the Tyrolean areas.
These sweet delicacies must be strictly accompanied by apple juice cooked together with orange and spices. The drink, known as Apfelglühmix, represents the perfect blend of local ingredients and traditional recipes, which come together in a Christmas version for the palates of young and old alike.
Lebkuchen – Photo by beats1/shutterstock
Sauris, a triumph of flavors in Friuli Venezia Giulia
At the mere mention of the name of this charming alpine village in Carnia, some of the tastiest food specialties come to mind. In Sauris, the leading role obviously, goes to the PGI ham of the same name, as well as the excellent local speck and the craft beer brewed here. At Christmas, the gastronomic specialties that promise to delight visitors to the village are even more. One must-have item is Brovada, or turnip soup, which is generally served with polenta and may be accompanied by cotechino or tripe. These are very textured dishes, perfect for warming on chilly winter evenings, especially when accompanied by a glass of good local red wine. For those who prefer sweet flavors, however, Christmas in Friuli Venezia Giulia is symbolized by gubana, an excellent focaccia filled with dried fruit with the unmistakable classic round shape.
Brovada – Photo Euripides/shutterstock
Cison di Valmarino and the magic of a “sparkling” Christmas
After the splendors of Artigianato Vivo and the harvest season have passed, the charm of this enchanting village that lies north of Treviso certainly never ceases to amaze. The event that affects Cison di Valmarino during the Christmas season generally runs for two dates, one of which often coincides with the classic Immaculate Conception Bridge for December 8. The Christmas atmosphere in this beautiful medieval village, a real jewel of the Marca Trevigiana, can be breathed in a manner not unlike what makes its atmosphere magical even in summer and autumn. On the level of Christmas food and wine specialties, undoubtedly you cannot miss the delicious charcuterie boards, accompanied by the local polenta, as well as glasses of new wine and punch, made with the excellent local prosecco.
Photo by qdpnews.it
Ricetto di Candelo: waiting for Santa Claus and the Elves with gusto
Ricetto di Candelo, in the province of Biella, is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. In the heart of the medieval village, especially in Piazza Castello, little houses are set up every year to involve children in waiting for Santa Claus and his elf helpers. If the little ones are bewitched by these activities designed for them, for the older ones there is certainly no shortage of opportunities for refreshments between the little houses. It is possible to taste some delicious cheese typical of the area, fresh and aged, as well as find artisan-made packages of Piedmontese sauces including red and green bagnetto, indispensable condiments to accompany Christmas lunches and dinners of bollito misto.
Photo by ricetta.it
