Handcrafted Christmas Gifts

From art to cooking and expert craftsmanship, here are some excellent gift ideas based on traditions from Lombardy.

With the arrival of the festive season, choosing a gift is an opportunity to give a present to a loved one, but it can also mean gifting them a story, created with gestures, traditions and materials that contain memories and beauty.

In Lombardy, artisan expertise has been transformed and renewed over time, while still preserving its special bond with the area in which it originated. Workshops and studios are the ideal destination if you are looking for gifts with a certain authenticity, such as wooden sculptures, hand-painted ceramics, designer furnishings, silk fabrics, and festive flavours.

At Christmas, choosing to give hand-crafted gifts and food and wine from Lombardy means gifting beautiful masterpieces, made by hand, and all with their own unique, living story.

Hand-decorated pottery and tableware (LO, MN) — Over the centuries, Lodi’s famous terra di vigna earth has been used to create fine, elegant majolica pieces, decorated with flowers, fruit, fish and oriental designs. Pieces from the 18th century, now displayed in museums, reveal the skills of the local workshops, which created brightly decorated elegant forms for the most beautiful tables. Mantua too has its own traditional ceramics, with engraved tableware and red clays that are typical of the valley. Today, choosing a handmade dish, vase or service means gifting a piece of the history served by the craftsmanship spirit of these areas.

Wooden statues from mountain workshops (LC,SO) — Mountain valleys are home to a unique art form: wood carving. In Valtellina, where you will find the largest collection of wooden pieces in the region, master craftsmen from historic workshops keep this tradition alive, allowing us to discover the secrets of wood art, worked by hand. In Valsassina, however, artists decorate trails with statues, amidst nature, art and traditions. Whether it is an experience or a statue, such as a small animal or a Christmas crib, the cratsmanship culture of these areas offers Christmas gift ideas that echo the spirit of the mountains.

Gold items and jewellery from Milan: precious gifts, made by hand (MI) — In Milan, the art of the goldsmith has roots going back to the time of the Lombard people and to the skills that, even in the Middle Ages, could be found animating the ancient workshops in the city. Gold was worked to hold precious stones, pearls and sacred symbols: masterpieces such as the Golden Altar of Sant’Ambrogio continue, even to this day, to testify to this important tradition. Today, traditional expertise meets design and innovation in the workshops of Milan, creating contemporary jewellery that reflects an all-Italian elegance. A hand-crafted jewellery item is a precious gift in terms of the material used and the history it contains within.

Designer, handcrafted furnishings (MB,VA) — Un regalo di design lombardo è un pensiero che intreccia storia e creatività. La Brianza, culla del mobile e del design d’arredo, porta con sé un saper fare artigianale costruito nel tempo e capace di dialogare con linguaggi contemporanei. La provincia di Varese esprime invece un design che nasce dall’incontro tra manifattura, tecnologia e innovazione, con soluzioni d’arredo moderne e sperimentali. Scegliere un pezzo realizzato a mano significa mettere sotto l’albero qualcosa di unico: funzionale, bello e destinato a durare.

A Christmas hamper with traditional flavours (CR,MI,SO,MN) — A Christmas hamper can become a little journey though the flavours of Lombardy, created by choosing delicacies from the area. Starting with cheeses from the Valtellina, which have centuries of alpine dairy expertise behind them, the next step is the famous Cremona salami, which is perfect for a platter to complete with the local mostarda pickle, or the version from Mantua, available in sweet or spicy versions. To end, festive cakes such as a Milanese panettone, the very symbol of Christmas and a descendant of the Mediaeval sweet breads, and Cremona nougat, made by skilled artisans using honey, almonds, and traditional techniques.

Fine silk fabrics (CO) — For those who love gifts that shine, but without going over the top, Como silk is the perfect choice. The soft, shiny thread, which is the result of centuries of expertise, gives a light, elegant touch to any accessory. From the mulberries introduced by the Sforzas to feed the silk worms, to the mills that transformed 18th-century Como into a genuine silk capital, every stage in its story reflects a deep bond with the area. Today, the city’s workshops see art and design woven into scarves, ties and accessories that are unique, just waiting to place a touch of timeless elegance under your tree.

Collectable bottles from excellent wineries (PV, BS) — From the hills of Oltrepò Pavese to Brescia’s Franciacorta, Lombardy has a thousand-year tradition when it comes to collectable wines. The province of Pavia has a passion for growing wine, including sparkling wines, Pinot Nero and reds. In Brescia, Franciacorta DOCG has become renowned worldwide for its double fermentation classic method, while Valle Camonica has rediscovered mountain wines, perfect when enjoyed with local cuisine. Every sip brings with it unique hints of its home, the ideal artisanal Christmas gift with plenty of good taste.

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