Hobbyists' Market / Christmas Hand Made

A scattered Christmas market in the Tusculan village

In Monte Porzio Catone, a town in the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in the heart of the Castelli Romani, Christmas is not concentrated in a single square: it spreads throughout the entire historic center. The Hobbyists' Market, accompanied by the Christmas Hand Made initiative, occupies the local shops and spaces of the village marked with special signs, turning your visit into a walking tour through the town's alleys, arches, and stairways.

The formula is simple and highly appreciated by visitors to the Castelli: no warehouses, no temporary structures, but rather existing spaces in the historic center reopened for the occasion and entrusted to local hobbyists, artisans, and creatives. The result is an intimate atmosphere, where you can wander in and out of shops following the scent of mulled wine and the glow of the festive lights.

What you will find

The selection is entirely handmade: Christmas gift items, tree decorations, small sculptures and miniature nativity scenes, costume jewelry, ceramics, embroidery and textiles, wooden articles, soaps and natural products, illustrations, and greeting cards. Many exhibitors are residents of the town or nearby villages—Frascati, Monte Compatri, Rocca Priora—and present unique pieces designed as gift ideas.

• Handmade crafts and hobbyist creations
• Christmas decorations and ornaments
• Ceramics, textiles, woodwork, and costume jewelry
• Small gift items and tree ornaments

In dialogue with the Nativity Scene Exhibition

The market does not exist in isolation: it follows the opening hours of the Nativity Scene and Diorama Exhibition, the historic event that sets up dozens of artistic nativity scenes in squares, cellars, and picturesque corners of the village in Monte Porzio Catone. Those arriving for the nativity scenes will find the market along the way, and vice versa: this is the key to the success of the local Christmas in the Center.

On the liveliest weekends, the offering is complemented by street food initiatives from the Santa Street Day and musical moments and entertainment organized by local associations, the Pro Loco, and the town's brotherhoods.

The setting: the Castelli Romani at Christmas

Monte Porzio Catone sits at an altitude of about 450 meters in the Alban Hills, about twenty kilometers from Rome, in an area known for its Frascati wine and views that stretch all the way to the capital. During the Christmas period, the villages of the Castelli Romani build an informal circuit of markets, villages, and nativity scenes that attracts Roman families for a half-day trip. Monte Porzio stands out for the intimate and non-commercial nature of its proposal: here, the market is truly an opportunity to meet the makers.

Tips for your visit

The best time to visit is in the afternoon, when the lights come on and the historic center fills up. The route is entirely pedestrian but includes inclines and steps: comfortable shoes are recommended. A complete visit, including both the market and the nativity scenes, takes about two hours, to which it is worth adding a stop in one of the town's cellars or taverns for a traditional Lazio dish.

The event is part of the Christmas calendar promoted by the Municipality of Monte Porzio Catone, in Lazio, with the collaboration of the Pro Loco and local associations.