The streets of the center light up with Christmas crafts
Every December, the historic center of Gallarate, a city in the province of Varese in the heart of the Malpensa area, dons its festive attire. Along Via Manzoni and Corso Italia, about forty stalls pop up, forming the Christmas Market, a stroll through crafts, gift ideas, and Christmas atmosphere just a stone's throw from the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta.
The exhibitors, largely local artisans, offer strictly handmade creations: from nativity scenes to candles, from personalized jewelry to decorative objects, from unique clothing items to small works of art. It's a market designed for those seeking a gift that can't be found everywhere, far from the logic of mass distribution.
The market is part of a broader Gallarate Christmas. During the festive season, Piazza Libertà hosts the ice skating rink, while Santa Claus's house welcomes the little ones. Among the most spectacular events is the parade of motorcyclist Santas, which crosses the city at the end of December. Together, they make the center of Gallarate a Christmas destination for families and curious visitors from all over the province of Varese.
The initiative is the result of collaboration between the association Il Naga, Ascom Gallarate, the Distretto Urbano del Commercio (Urban Commerce District), and the Fiera Artigiani di Malpensa Meetings, with the patronage of the Municipality of Gallarate. A network effort that annually enlivens city commerce during the most anticipated period of the year.
In December 2026, the Gallarate Christmas Market will once again color the historic center between Via Manzoni and Corso Italia. The precise dates will be confirmed with the publication of the official city Christmas events calendar: continuing the tradition of previous editions, the events will focus on the Sundays before the holidays, typically around December 15th and December 21st, with continuous hours from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Alongside the stalls, the usual array of initiatives is expected: the ice skating rink in Piazza Libertà, Santa Claus's house, and the parade of motorcyclist Santas.
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be published with the Municipality of Gallarate's Christmas events calendar. Usual structure of the event:
Via Manzoni and Corso Italia, historic center of Gallarate (VA). The ice skating rink is in Piazza Libertà.
Gallarate is served by the train station on the Milan-Domodossola line, a few minutes' walk from the center. By car, take the A8 highway exit for Gallarate. Milan Malpensa Airport is a few kilometers away.
Access to the market is free. The ice skating rink has a fee for admission and skate rental.
No photos yet. Share yours!
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Share your experience with the community.
Centro storico (Via Manzoni e Corso Italia)
Via Manzoni, 21013 Gallarate