Christmas is an excellent opportunity to discover Italy. The cities and towns take on fabulous and enchanting atmospheres that make places already full of history and beauty even more fascinating. Here are five cities to visit at Christmas in Italy.
The most interesting locations to visit in December
Trento
Surrounded by mountains, with a beautiful old town, Trento is an ideal city for Christmas, starting from its Central European tradition of Christmas markets. It can be visited and experienced in a pleasant and relaxing way, starting with visits to the Roman city, which continues even underground, then move on to the medieval and Renaissance cities. The Trentino capital offers all its beauty with the Romanesque cathedral and the Castello del Buonconsiglio, with its ancient and elegant buildings and a fairytale and evocative atmosphere.
The Christmas Markets, characterized by the wooden houses, are among the most famous of the entire alpine arc. For the 2018 edition the “green” theme was chosen, and the initiative received the “100% clean energy” certification. An opportunity to discover the attractions of local craftsmanship and food and wine.
Perugia
The Umbrian capital is a city of art with the advantage of being people-friendly, perfect if you do not know where to go at Christmas in Italy. The historic center, full of churches, palaces, museums is the ideal place for a holiday that combines different attractions: art, culture, gastronomy along with Christmas fun. Thus, the visit to the Palazzo dei Priori and the Rocca Paolina allows you to fully experience the atmosphere of the most important religious festival in Italy.
In fact, at La Rocca, the “Christmas at the Rocca” is held every year. In the splendid sixteenth century scenery of the fortress and in the streets of Underground Perugia, one of the most fascinating Christmas markets in the country is held.
Siena
The city of the Palio welcomes Christmas with two months of events and initiatives to be discovered. Over 240 events welcome visitors and tourists, transforming the historic center, and not only, in one big show. The Civic Museum also opens its doors at night, the La Lizza Gardens host the Campo Market and the Christmas Village, while concerts, choirs, dances and music make streets, squares and alleyways lively and attractive.
Among other things, starting this year, Siena Francigena Kids begins, an urban trek dedicated to children who, starting from Santa Maria della Scala, will follow the Francigeno path in the spirit of the pilgrims of the Middle Ages.
Rome
Large, monumental and beautiful. Rome, home of the Catholic Church, becomes really fascinating at Christmas. A large Christmas tree and a Crib stand out in the center of St. Peter’s Square. The churches of the capital come alive with nativity and ceremonies, and the desire to visit it high and low becomes even stronger.
Piazza Navona, dominated by the Fontana dei Fiumi by Bernini, hosts the flea market, a triumph of:
- toys
- decorations for the crib
- crafts and objects
- cakes
Via dei Coronari, Via dell’Orso and Sant’Eustachio become a theater for concerts of all kinds, while a minstrel goes around telling mysterious stories of the city. And the music of the pipers is not lacking. The rest is offered naturally by the city: Sistine Chapel, Pontifical Galleries, Piazza di Spagna, Piazza del Popolo, the Colosseum.
Naples
The city of Naples is one of the most traditional destinations for Christmas. Starting from the cult of the nativity scene and of how much it revolves around this tradition, represented in the most fascinating and suggestive way in the via San Gregorio Armeno. It is in fact the headquarters of the artistic production and the exhibition of shepherds, caves and mangers known all over the world.
The artistic and historical beauty of the city is exalted in the Christmas period, and is the backdrop for fairs, markets, concerts, crib representations and activities for children. The beauty of the historic center becomes even more impressive. With all the charm offered by a Christmas by the sea, in the incomparable scenery of the Gulf, enjoying all the Christmas culinary repertoire that in Naples boasts deep and tasty traditions.
Here are just five suggestions on where to go for Christmas in Italy. There is really a lot to see in our beautiful Peninsula!