Why an Italian Christmas Should Top Your Bucket List
The case for an Italian Christmas has never been stronger. If you’re thinking about a winter getaway, but don’t know where to go, the place you should be focusing on is Italy – specifically Rome – for a festive season unlike any other.
The charm of European Christmas holidays becomes hugely tempting as the festive season arrives. But although traditional Christmas markets in Germany, or snowy Alpine escapes may be popular choices, there’s something undeniably magical about celebrating Christmas in Italy.
A rich land steeped in traditions, tasty cuisine, and historical charm becomes even more magical when dressed in cascading lights, radiating with the scent of roasted chestnuts, and alive with the joyful pulse of Earth’s greatest holiday season.
Rome at Christmas
Rome feels intoxicating through every season, but Christmas in the old city remains a unique experience. Be it ever so humble, the Eternal City boasts stunning architecture, ancient ruins, and a quality of history combined with holiday charm that few other places can offer.
When December comes around, the grand boulevards like Via del Corso and the picturesque-cobbled streets of Trastevere twinkle with festive decorations. Delicate strands of fairy lights drape across pedestrian thoroughfares, and grand Christmas trees rise majestically in such landmark locations as Piazza Venezia and St. Peter’s Square.
Unlike the busy and sweltering summers, when tourists fill every inch of the city, December provides a more relaxed and intimate visit. The streets of Rome aren’t uncomfortably crowded, but there are locals doing their Christmas shopping, or having a warm pastry in a historic cafe.
You will listen to street musicians playing carols, watch families walk hand in hand through the piazzas and feel the Roman holiday spirit spreading. It worked for Audrey Hepburn, so why shouldn’t it work for you?
And like the rest of the country, nativity scenes, or presepi, pop up all over the city. Arrayed across the din of the marketplace, their pieces are not just figurines for settings but are detailed craftworks, depicting entire scenes with resin and clay and light, even villages, with anthropomorphic figures as lifelike as they are fascinating.
Some of the best displays are inside churches such as Santa Maria Maggiore, which is home to the oldest known nativity scene in the world, from the 13th century. And this year’s nativity scene from the Vatican, which is housed in St. Peter’s Square, is a must-see; it’s unveiled every year in a ceremony where visitors from all over the world attend.
Rome with Andante Travels
For a little more curation, Andante Travels’ Christmas in Rome tour is a wonderful way to explore the Italian capital’s holiday highlights while looking back at its storied past. This six-day tour gains entrance to a few of Rome’s most precious places — and pairs visiting with expert guide lecturers who bring centuries of history to life.
The tour includes limited access to the Colosseum’s underground service tunnels, where you can walk in the footsteps of gladiators who prepared for battle inside the ancient amphitheatre. You will enjoy a visit to the Capitoline Museums, home to some of the great works of Roman art and sculpture, as well as visits to hidden churches, archaeological sites, and other lesser-known treasures most tourists miss.
Accommodations are at the Albergo Santa Chiara, a lovely hotel tucked just behind the Pantheon. From this central location, you can easily explore Rome’s historical and festive sites, whilst avoiding excessive travel.
Waking up in the heart of the city, stepping outside into crisp winter air, and walking past illuminated fountains and centuries-old buildings before delving into a cozy café for a morning espresso.
The Italian Magic of Christmas
The food is a huge part of any Christmas celebration in Italy, and it’s the time of year when those who enjoy finer cuisine truly indulge. Unlike the rushed meals of modern life, Christmas in Italy is a moment to slow down, gather with loved ones, and enjoy each bite.
The holiday feasting kicks off on Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a go-to, Catholic-inspired spread that features an array of different seafood dishes ranging from hearty pasta with clams to delicate, grilled fish.
On Christmas Day, the feast carries on with rich pasta plates, roasted meats, and winter dishes. Tortellini in brodo, a warming dish of delicate parcels of pasta served in rich broth, is a holiday staple in many Italian homes. Other festive staples are capon (a kind of roasted chicken), lamb or pork, often served with roasted vegetables and rich sauces.
No Italian Christmas would be complete without dessert, of course. One of the most quintessential is panettone, a fluffy bread loaf that’s sweet and studded with raisins and candied fruit. And served with a glass of sparkling wine or a strong espresso, panettone captures the sweetness and gaiety of the season.
For those who like it richer, pandoro — a golden, buttery cake from Verona — is another favourite holiday confection, often coated in powdered sugar to look like freshly fallen snow.
Heartwarming Christmas Traditions
Besides historical grandiosity, Italy’s heritage is Christmas; a faith deeply embedded in tradition. Perhaps the most special experience you can find is to attend Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica right in the heart of Vatican City — an unforgettable moment.
Whether you’re able to get a ticket for the service itself or just brave the square outside and mingle with worshippers lit by the glow of candles, it’s a deeply moving event. And outside the religious celebrations, there is plenty of festive fun in Rome to enjoy.
The Piazza Navona Christmas Market is a must-see, as wooden stalls overflow with handcrafted gifts, traditional sweets, and holiday decorations. The square, which is already famous for its stunning fountains by the architect Bernini, transforms into a winter wonderland where you can sip vin brulé (mulled wine), browse artisanal crafts, or simply watch street performers entertain the crowd.
For a more localized cultural experience, join in with La Befana, Italy’s interpretation of the Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6th. La Befana, according to folklore, is a benevolent witch who brings candy to good children (and coal to the bad ones). Celebrations in Rome feature parades, festive markets, and shopkeepers setting out the last of the holiday cheer.
Italy vs. the U.K. at Christmas
The winter climate is mild in many parts of Italy, one of the most practical Christmas holidays in Italy reason. December in much of the UK is chilly, wet and often shows little sign of sunlight but Rome has a cool but pleasant winter.
Temperatures average between 10–15°C (50–59°F) which is ideal for walking around and taking in the sights. A far cry from frosty winds and gripping UK streets, Rome’s crisp air, sunshine, and light drizzle-of-the-cider kind of rains mean your excuses for warming your hands around hot chocolate or mulled wine in an adorable café are perfectly justified.
For those seeking a white Christmas, the Italian Alps and Dolomites are just a train ride away from Rome and potentially snowy, while still allowing you to experience Rome’s more temperate climate.
One waits in wonderment; what is it about an Italian Christmas that remains with you long after the lights have been put away? Whether it’s the warmth of the people, the rooted traditions, or the combination of past and present in the festive streets, you won’t find these sensations anywhere else.
Perhaps it’s that simple pleasure of walking through Rome at twilight, past lit fountains and ruins, and feeling as though you have walked into a holiday scene frozen in time.
Unlike much of the Christmas season elsewhere in the world, which is often defined by commercialism and a rush to prepare, Italy attaches it with togetherness, contemplation, and joy. Christmas in Italy will change how you think of the holiday.
If you’ve ever thought of celebrating the holidays abroad, there’s no better place to do so than Italy. A combination of history, culture, cuisine, and festive spirit make it the ideal blend of tradition and celebration.
So, for this year, why not trade in grey skies for golden piazzas, damp mornings for candlelit churches, and rushed shopping trips for leisurely feasts? Rome awaits, and with Andante Travels it offers a Christmas you’re unlikely to forget.
