What to do in Italy for Christmas?
One of the most beautiful and charming times of the whole year is coming: holy Christmas. The holidays are a great reason to travel and visit new cities. For many people (especially for those who love tradition), there is no better place than home to celebrate Christmas in the company of family members. But the rest of the Christmas season is perfect for taking a mini trip and visiting those cities that transform during the holidays, providing special emotions everywhere. Let’s go to discover what to do in Italy for Christmas? Here at Your Travel to Italy with Ana Patricia you make the trip of your dreams!!! ALSO: see our “Accommodation in Italy – Tips for your holidays!”
Introduction
What are those places where there is a strong Christmas atmosphere? Are you ready to visit such cities to get a Christmas trip with the typical climate of this magical time of year? Certainly there are several Italian cities to visit at this time, which provide us with this magical climate that only Christmas can give. In Italy, Christmas is celebrated with traditions that have developed over the centuries, often absorbing and integrating specific elements of local culture, where the arrival of Christmas is particularly dear and the traditions connected with this festival are many. Also read Where to go for Christmas and New Year dinner in Italy!
Get to know Traditions
The variety of regional traditions in our country makes it difficult to define what is typical of Italy. Therefore, we will choose different aspects of the tradition, those that we may know better and that we like the most. In Italy, cribs, festivities in the squares and Christmas markets are part of this tradition. Also read What to do for Christmas in the main Italian cities?
1) What to do in Italy for Christmas? VISIT THE CHRISTMAS FAIRS
Let’s start with the wonderful Christmas fairs, which are the first thing to do and see in Italy at this time. The Christmas fairs are one of the most fascinating and special experiences that can be experienced during the Christmas season. In the month of December, the streets and squares of the city start to be full of stalls and fairs. Therefore, let us be enchanted by the magic of these places that, at Christmas, become enchanted places with a sensational climate, with their typical wooden houses in the squares (one more beautiful than the other), with lights, colors and perfumes, making this even more charming time.
About the Fairs
The fairs usually take place from the end of November until the beginning of January (some of them stay until the Twelfth Night) and each year, thousands of visitors let themselves be conquered by this Christmas magic and manage to revive the old traditions of the place. It is not just an occasion to buy Christmas gifts, but also to try local gastronomic products, like aromatic Christmas cookies, pies, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and many other things – the cure for all ills, to compensate for the acute cold.
Wooden Houses
Strolling among the wooden houses, it is possible to observe and buy such Christmas decorations of all shapes and colors to embellish the trees and the nativity scenes at home. There are many gift ideas, such as glass angels, felt and soft items and several other hand-crafted products.
In fact, in our country there was no habit of doing Christmas fairs, but for some years now this Nordic tradition has been growing. Starting in the region of Trentino-Alto Adige and also the famous fairs of Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone, Brunico and Vipiteno. GET TO KNOW MY ITINERARY TIPS IN ITALY
2) What to do in Italy for Christmas? ENJOY ILLUMINATED STREETS
In all these places, the cities are full of little lights, which illuminate the streets of the center and provide unique sensations, as if it were a fairy tale. This time of year is really beautiful. Each little show of affection warms the heart and each Christmas object can quickly get a smile out of us, the lights provide that feeling of peace and love, especially those white ones that light and warm the heart.
Tip:
- Visit the Luci d’ Artista in Salerno: From November to January the fantastic exhibition of lights artworks in the squares, parks and streets of Salerno is really amazing.
3) What to do in Italy for Christmas? VISIT THE CRIBS
Now, a typical Italian tradition is the Living Crib, and one of the most famous is that of the Spanish Steps in Rome. The first living crib was made by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1223 in Greccio. Another thing you can’t miss when you come to Italy at Christmas time are the cribs in general, especially those on Via San Gregorio Armeno, in Naples. This is a street famous for artisans specializing in cribs, known throughout the world for the numerous craft fairs dedicated to the art of nativity scenes. The street and the ateliers can be visited throughout the year, bringing the Christmas atmosphere to the visitor. An entire street in the historic center dedicated to the symbol of Christmas. LEARN HERE WHAT TO DO IN ITALY DURING WINTER!
Christmas Fairs in Naples
The Christmas Fairs in Naples are one of the most fascinating and special experiences that can be experienced during the Christmas season. In December, the streets and squares are full of stalls and fairs. A unique climate that finds its maximum expression in the famous Via San Gregorio Armeno. Thousands of visitors crowd the streets of Naples’ historic center. The most famous streets, such as San Gregorio Armeno and San Biagio dei Librai, are so crowded that it is even difficult to walk. The alleys are more like Casbá (the historic region of Arab cities in South Africa) with the artisans who work the cribs and the shepherds under the eyes of passersby and curious children. WHAT ARE ITALY’S MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS?
The Ateliers
Naples is home to this ancient tradition, a unique art in the world, passed down from father to son. In the atelier, real works of art are created, from cribs costing thousands of euros to the small statues that cost less than ten euros. The protagonist of Neapolitan Christmas is the Christimas Crib, which, according to tradition, should be set up at the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, on December 8th. For all Neapolitan families, Christmas means visiting Via San Gregorio Armeno, a mandatory stop before investing in the construction or expansion of the own crib.
4) What to do in Italy for Christmas? VISIT THE GUBBIO CHRISTMAS TREE
In addition to the crib, the Christmas tree is one of the most widespread Christmas traditions. In general, it is a pine tree decorated with small colored objects, lights, garlands, sweets and gift packages, assembled both indoors and outdoors, prepared a few days or weeks before Christmas. HOW MANY DAYS DO I NEED TO VISIT ITALY?
It is in Gubbio that the largest Christmas tree in the world is located. Gubbio’s Christmas tree is spectacular and unique of its kind and was set up on the mountainside, lighting up several trees to form a giant tree, the largest in Italy. The tree consists of more than 250 luminous points that form such a silhouette and is placed at the foot of Monte Ingino, high in the medieval city of Gubbio. This Christmas tree attracts thousands of people every year who want to see this inspiring piece of engineering live. The tree remains lit throughout the Christmas season and goes out after the Feast of the Epiphany. Its long threads will be kept, waiting for a new year. LEARN HERE WHAT IS THE BEST PERIOD TO TRAVEL TO ITALY?
Conclusion
What to do in Italy for Christmas? I believe that these suggestions and ideas form a good basis for starting to plan how to spend the Christmas period in Italy. And if you feel insecure or have no time, and need help to organize your trip, do not hesitate to look for me! I will love to help you make your dream trip to Italy. And how can I do that? Continue reading this post until the end and you will understand how can we make your life and journey easier
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What to do in Italy for Christmas?