Poggio Moiano Christmas Markets

A village market in the heart of Sabina

The Poggio Moiano Christmas Markets are the most anticipated festive event in this village of just under three thousand inhabitants, nestled on the slopes of Monte Miano in the municipality of Poggio Moiano, in the province of Rieti, Lazio. Located in the Upper Sabina, just a stone's throw from the Monti Lucretili Regional Park and less than an hour from Rome, the village is a perfect destination for a December day trip, when festive lights and exhibitor stalls transform the historic center into a charming Christmas village.

What you will find at the stalls

The market is not a commercial fair, but a showcase of local production. Exhibitors—local artisans from the village and neighboring towns—offer Christmas decorations, olive wood objects, ceramics, textiles, and handmade gift ideas. Alongside the artisans, agricultural producers from the Sabina region, land of DOP extra virgin olive oil, offer tastings of new oil, cheeses, and preserves.

• Local crafts: wood, ceramics, textiles, Christmas decorations
• Typical Sabina products: extra virgin olive oil, cheeses, cured meats, festive sweets
• Village street food: fried pizzas, polenta, and mulled wine on colder days
• Children's entertainment: games, workshops, distribution of sweets, and meeting Santa Claus

A Christmas that lasts all month

In Poggio Moiano, the market is just one piece of a broader Christmas calendar, built over the years by the Pro Loco together with local associations. Alongside the stalls, the nativity scene exhibition curated by the cultural association Circola Pensiero is traditionally held in a historic cellar on Viale Umberto I: works created with the most diverse materials, from olive wood to stone, cork to papier-mâché, with recycling and reuse as a common theme.

In recent editions, the program has also included the Polenta Festival, a parade by the "Don Antonio Santini" marching band through the village streets, and a Christmas concert in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and Saint John the Baptist, as well as the "Epiphany in Music" show that closes the festivities on January 5th.

Solidarity and community

A distinctive feature of the Poggio Moiano markets is their commitment to charity: during the event, a collection point for toys and books is active, intended for children and teenagers supported by local charitable associations. It is a sign of a festival born from the grassroots, animated by the volunteers of the Pro Loco, the band, the choirs, and the young people of the village.

Why it's worth the trip

Those arriving from Rome or the Rieti plain will find the atmosphere that large city markets have long since lost: a few dozen stalls, but all authentic, the chatter of the square, live music, and the chance to truly get to know the producers. The historic center, with its uphill alleys and views over the valley, does the rest. Poggio Moiano is, after all, a village with a great tradition of festivals: its Sacred Heart Flower Festival, with petal carpets laid along the streets in June, is one of the most well-known in Lazio, and the same care is found in the Christmas setup.

When to go

The markets are held on the weekends leading up to Christmas, generally between mid-December and the 20th. Dates vary from year to year and are announced by the Pro Loco Poggio Moiano on their social media channels a few weeks in advance: it is always advisable to check before setting off.