Mercatini al Castello — Christmas Markets at Palazzo Mediceo

Christmas comes to the Palazzo Mediceo

Every winter, the Palazzo Mediceo in Ottaviano, the ancient castle overlooking the historic center of the town on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, opens its courtyards and halls to host the Mercatini al Castello. It is one of the most iconic Christmas events in the municipality of Ottaviano and the entire Vesuvius area, in the province of Naples: for several weeks, between late November and the days before Christmas, the palace fills with wooden huts, fairy lights, and the scent of traditional sweets, becoming a true festive village.

The event is promoted by the Pro Loco Ottaviano together with the Municipality of Ottaviano, under the patronage of the Vesuvius National Park, and was created to return a long-inaccessible monument to the city. The castle, formerly a Medici fiefdom, is now a public asset and a venue for cultural initiatives: visiting it dressed for the holidays, with the first floor and restored rooms open to the public, is a reason in itself to head up to Ottaviano.

Crafts, nativity scenes, and flavors of Vesuvius

The heart of the event is the craft stalls: in the largest editions, exhibitors have exceeded one hundred, distributed between the courtyard, the porticos, and the interior rooms of the palace. You can find handmade items, ceramics, Christmas decorations, gift ideas, figurines, and accessories for the nativity scene — a tradition that is particularly deeply felt in the Neapolitan area and finds a historic setting here that is hard to match.

Alongside the crafts, there is a food and wine trail, often hosted in the ancient stables, dedicated to the specialties of the Vesuvius territory:

• wines from Vesuvius vineyards and artisanal liqueurs;
• festive sweets such as struffoli, roccocò, and mostaccioli;
• cured meats, cheeses, preserves, and products from local farmers;
• refreshment areas with hot dishes and street food.

The children's village

An important part of the program is designed for families. In recent editions, the palace has hosted Santa's House, with elves welcoming children on weekends, creative workshops on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, and attractions like the ice skating rink set up in the outdoor spaces. The little train or the free shuttle that connects the town to the castle, when operational, solves the problem of the climb and makes the visit comfortable even with little ones.

Shows, choirs, and guided tours

Live entertainment accompanies every opening day: street performers, concerts, Christmas choirs, bagpipers, and themed theatrical performances take turns in the equipped spaces of the palace. To complete the experience, there are guided tours of the Palazzo Mediceo and the historic and religious buildings of the center, which in recent years have included the event in cultural enhancement paths promoted by the Metropolitan City of Naples.

Ottaviano, gateway to the Vesuvius National Park

Ottaviano is one of the gateway towns to the Vesuvius National Park, and one of the access routes to the Gran Cono starts here. Christmas at the castle thus becomes an opportunity to discover a territory that is visited more calmly in winter: the historic center, the churches, and the views over the gulf and the countryside cultivated with vines and apricots. For those arriving from Naples or the Vesuvius coast, the day can easily be combined with a walk in the town.

When to go and what to expect

The Mercatini al Castello are usually concentrated on the weekends between late November and the third week of December, with evening openings on Thursdays and Fridays and continuous hours on Saturdays and Sundays. The liveliest — and also the most crowded — days are those leading up to Christmas. Admission to the markets is free. Those who want to visit the palace rooms in peace would do well to arrive in the early afternoon, before the evening flow fills the courtyards and stairs.