by Nadia Toppino
From the largest Christmas market in Italy, with 117 exhibitors, to over 220,000 admissions recorded throughout the opening period: The Magical Christmas Country of Govone is confirmed as an unmissable event and increasingly appreciated by the Italian and international public. Thematic weekends and trips by historic train from Turin and Milan are particularly welcome.
Quality, success and record attendance are the keywords that best summarize the 13th edition of Il MagicoPaese di Natale. A decidedly positive outcome for the Piedmontese Christmas event increasingly frequented by international tourists, from Europe but also America and China. An important boost for the area and its tourism development that has brought Govone to the list of the best Christmas destinations in Europe and which aims to promote its beauty and typical products.
More than 220,000 registered presences, with maximum
peaks of 25,000 people only in the historic centre of
Govone: an audience turnout that exceeded expectations; 117 exhibitors in the
Christmas market; over 150 pine trees to decorate the entire route; 120
volunteers involved during the organization and conduct of the event; 25,000
meters of unrolled lights; 384 live performances of the show of La Casa di
Santa Claus; 12,000 cookies given to children; 2,000 bottles of wine opened to
toast a very special Christmas and 3,000 plastic bottles collected in the
compactor and destined for an eco-sustainability project in collaboration with
CORIPET, which involves planting a tree in the Castle Park every 300 bottles
recycled. These are the numbers that tell of the 13th edition of Il
MagicoNatale di Govone, an event that in December 2019 gained the 13th position
in the ranking of the best Christmas markets in Europe promoted by the European
Best Destinations organization.
There were also two historic train rides that transported 700 people from Turin and Milan in a completely original atmosphere, between entertainment and food and wine tastings on board in collaboration with Valgrana and the Asti DOCG Consortium.
The four Thematic Weekends also captured the interest of a varied audience, enjoying success especially during the two weekends dedicated to the Food Festival. Great interest also for the exhibition-competition dedicated to the “AdesteFideles” Nativity scene, which saw the awarding as absolute winner of MimmoCraviotto with his seamless copper wire nativity scene, a composition of great visual effect and complexity.
Of the 220,000 visitors, many attended the event in a group. In fact, over 230 tourist coaches from all over Italy have come to Govone to visit The Magical Christmas Country.
The event turns out to be more and more international from year to year, as evidenced by the increase in the presence of foreign tourists, coming from Europe, but also from overseas countries such as America and China. And more and more family-friendly, thanks to the initiatives and collateral events designed specifically for adults and children. Incalculable is the number of emotions that Il MagicoPaese di Natale has given to young visitors, enthusiasts and curious people of all ages, filling the characteristic Cuneo village with joy located between wine-growing landscapes and architectures signed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO . For all lovers of Christmas, all that remains is to meet the next edition, already scheduled from November 14th to December 20th, 2020.