Christmas (lights) in Rome

I have lived in Rome for 7 years and visited as a tourist for over 20, but I have never spent Christmas in the city. It’s a special time of year reserved for family and so each year I make the voyage – a 20+ hour one – to Melbourne. But each year I get to enjoy the lead up and have been fortunate this time around to have special sources on the ground who continue to share photos and footage of all the gorgeous trimmings.

This year (and never without a little controversy), the tree went up in Piazza Venezia, paid for by Netflix Italia and together with the large one in St Peter’s Square they were lit up on the traditional 8 December, Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception in front of enormous crowds. These are the two main ones in the city and the Vatican tree is accompanied this time around with a nativity scene sand sculpture.

(Click below for a video of the lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia)

https://instagram.com/p/BrNVSznH9zu/

Lights have lined the main shopping strips Via del Corso and Via dei Condotti and they truly look magical. While in Piazza di Spagna, the annual gold show by the Valentino store area is back. Most of the smaller shopping streets like Via Frattina and Via Babuino have their festive cheer on as do many other streets in neighbourhoods like Monti and Trastevere.

It truly is a magical time of year. For more information about what to do, see and eat this Christmas in Rome, check out these great pieces:

RomeWise: What to do in Rome for the holidays

Romeing: Top 10 things to do in Rome this Christmas

Testaccina: Winter in Rome

An American in Rome: What to eat in Rome at Christmas

And you can listen in to my chat with An American Rome on HeartRome Radio (Radio Food Live) where we talk about what to see, eat and do during the festive season. Click here for the podcast.

For those of you who celebrate, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Christmas and may 2019 bring prosperity, good fortune and good health to all. I’m grateful for your continued support and readership and forever humbled.

Signing off from Melbourne, with much love,

Baci Maria

Leave a Reply