From 4 to 8 December 2026, Piazza del Campo in Siena fills with stalls for the Mercato nel Campo. For five days, the shell-shaped square, usually admired from the top of the Torre del Mangia or experienced during the Palio, rediscovers an ancient role: a place of exchange between the city and the surrounding countryside.
A market inspired by the fourteenth century
The idea behind the Mercato nel Campo comes from the square’s commercial history. In the early fourteenth century, a market was held here every day, with a larger market on Saturdays attended by producers from the surrounding countryside alongside the city’s craftsmen. Nothing was left to chance: a city office, the Ufficio dell’Abbondanza, decided where the stalls should stand and set out the aisles for people to pass through.
Today’s edition draws on that layout and gives the square back its role as a marketplace. It is not a costumed re-enactment, but an opportunity to stroll slowly across the Campo, stop at the stalls and see the square from an unusual point of view.
What you will find at the stalls
According to the list published by the organisers, which is still being updated, the stalls are divided between food products and crafts. Food lovers will find cured meats, cheeses, honey, olive oil, truffles, chocolate, wines and liqueurs, as well as festive sweets. When it comes to Sienese specialities, the Christmas season is the perfect time to taste panforte and ricciarelli, which also feature in some talks dedicated to the area’s PGI products.
The craft stalls offer ceramics, leather goods, textiles, jewellery, hats, candles and soaps, along with books, comics and Christmas decorations. It is a good opportunity to look for a gift that tells the story of Tuscany, bought directly from the people who make it.
Talks and workshops
Alongside the stalls, the official website presents a programme of side events: workshops for children, book and comic presentations, talks on the history of Sienese sweets and an exhibition linked to the State Archives. The dates given for these activities should be checked on the website before your visit, as the programme is still being updated.
Planning your visit
The market spans the Immaculate Conception holiday weekend, so 8 December and the weekend are likely to be the busiest days: if you prefer to browse at a relaxed pace, aim for Friday 4 December. The stalls’ opening hours have not yet been published. A morning at the market pairs well with a visit to the Palazzo Pubblico or a walk through the streets of the centre, where Siena’s Christmas events are taking place at the same time.
For the list of exhibitors, the map and updates, visit the official Mercato nel Campo website.
