The most beautiful and traditional Christmas away from home, 50 minutes from Milan 
 
 The most beautiful and traditional Christmas away from home, 50 minutes from Milan 
 Since 2009, Santa Claus's Grotto in Ornavasso has been a favorite destination for families in Milan, Lombardy, and beyond. 
   
  In November and December 2025, you can relive this extraordinary Christmas outing, hiking the trails of the Twergi Mountain, Santa's helper elves, and entering the underground quarry, where the marble for Milan's Cathedral was extracted. Here, you'll meet Santa Claus in the large underground marble hall. 
 
   
 Why is Santa's Grotto in Ornavasso the most original and beloved Christmas experience in Italy? 
   
  Because it's a different experience from the usual "Santa Claus's house," artificial Christmas villages, and Christmas markets. It's a nature trip, with a tourist train connecting the center of Ornavasso and a Christmas stroll through the Elf Forest, overlooking Lake Mergozzo and Lake Maggiore. 
 
   
 Less than an hour from Milan, it's the ideal Christmas trip for those who love traditional Christmases, nature walks, and adventure. 
   
  Santa Claus couldn't believe his luck when he found a slice of Lapland in Italy. Ornavasso is Santa's Mountain, as is his Korvatunturi Cave. In Stresa, the pearl of Lake Maggiore, just 20 minutes from Ornavasso, families can find Santa's Town, his "headquarters," just like in Rovaniemi, with games under the tree, Santa's studio, and the grand Christmas show. A sparkling Christmas among the shops, restaurants, and hotels you can choose as your base for this new, all-Italian Christmas experience, also recommended for foreigners who want to experience Lake Maggiore in the winter months. 
 
   
 A Thousand Nativity Scenes from Around the World - 
 Starting from the 2024 edition of Santa's Grotto, you can visit an incredible exhibition with 1200 nativity scenes from all over the world, just a few minutes from Santa's Grotto, at the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Boden.