Many a town square will have its own immense Christmas tree<\/strong> while the old town centres<\/strong> are adorned with traditional illuminations<\/strong>, which makes them even more scenic.<\/p>\n At the markets themselves, stalls will be piled high with Christmas decorations<\/strong>, traditional crib <\/strong>statues, and figures from the Apulian tradition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Local craftsmen<\/strong> exhibit creations made with such typical materials<\/strong> as papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9<\/strong>, terracotta<\/strong>, ceramics<\/strong>, and Lecce stone<\/strong>, as well as basketware<\/strong>, wrought iron<\/strong>, and various loom-woven fabrics<\/strong>: these tempting items will include Christmas decorations, jewellery, bags and furnishing items.<\/p>\n Roll up to the food stalls<\/strong>, to taste and purchase a whole host of local delicacies. And make sure to warm the cockles of your heart with a sip of the heady traditional vincotto <\/em><\/strong>and crunch on some excellent pettole<\/em><\/strong>*!<\/p>\n One of the loveliest Christmas markets in Puglia<\/strong> is the famous \u201cFiera dei Pupi\u201d <\/strong>(puppet fair) in Lecce<\/strong>, which this year takes place from the 7th<\/sup> to the 24th<\/sup> of December, within the beautiful cloister of the former Theatine monastery<\/strong>. This temporary exhibition of artistic nativity scenes <\/strong>shows the artisans\u2019 mastery at its best, in papier-m\u00e2ch\u00e9, terracotta and Apulian ceramics from all over the region at an event whose origins have been dated back as far as the 16th<\/sup> century. The skilled hands of the puppeteers<\/strong> also work other materials such as FIMO clay, cork, glass, polystyrene and felt.<\/p>\n The Valle d\u2019Itria <\/strong>in Ostuni, Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Fasano, <\/strong>and Martina Franca<\/strong> is also a spectacle to behold at this time of year, with town and village centres decked out with festive decorations, ready to give a warm welcome to visitors to their food stands<\/strong> and displays of local arts and crafts<\/strong>,. In addition to the music filling the streets and the children\u2019s merry-go-rounds, enjoy the unique spectacle of trulli<\/strong> lit up in all their Christmas finery.<\/p>\n Make sure not to miss out on the spectacular \u201cAlberobello Christmas Lights Festival<\/strong>\u201d from 7th<\/sup> December to 7th<\/sup> January, with its installations and light shows bathing the alleyways, trulli and monuments of this UNESCO World Heritage site <\/strong>in a fairytale atmosphere.<\/p>\n Other events worth a visit \u2013 especially if you\u2019re here with the kids \u2013 are the Christmas Market in Fasano<\/strong> at the Fasanolandia<\/em><\/strong> theme park on the 2nd<\/sup> and 3rd<\/sup> and from the 7th<\/sup> to the 10th<\/sup> of December, and “Il Villaggio di Babbo Natale<\/strong>\u201d (Father Christmas\u2019 Village), in the old city of Martina Franca from December 16th<\/sup> to January 1st<\/sup>.<\/p>\n One way to fully experience the magic of a Christmastime holiday in Puglia is to\u00a0stay in a trullo<\/strong>, which will give you a nice cosy base from which to enjoy your visits to the various towns in the Valle d’Itria or to plan a day out to nearby Lecce.<\/p>\n Is there really anyone left who reckons Puglia can be attractive only in the summer? The\u00a0Christmas markets<\/strong>, with their perfect combination of\u00a0tradition<\/strong>,\u00a0art\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0gastronomy<\/strong>, are living proof that your welcome in Puglia will be just as warm, even in December.<\/p>\n *or\u00a0Pittule<\/em><\/strong>: fried balls of leavened dough, either plain or else stuffed with sweet potato or dried cod, anchovies, turnip tops, cauliflower, capers, black olives …<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (post by TrulliOnLine staff) Puglia\u2019s Christmas markets last anything from just one up to several days between the Feast of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":116,"featured_media":39145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,130],"tags":[206],"class_list":["post-33716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations-and-itineraries","category-festivals","tag-christmas","breadcrumb","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.trullionline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/pupi-natale-puglia.jpg\")
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