With Christmas fast approaching, you may want to do something a little bit different this year. Instead of spending the holidays at home, you may want to see how other cultures celebrate the holiday season.
Of course, the Xtrawine team thinks that you should consider Italy as the destination for your Christmas vacation. Just thinking about all of the amazing food and Italian wine you could enjoy is more than enough to tempt us.
But you may need a little bit extra incentive to come to the country to spend Christmas.
It’s that line of thinking that has inspired today’s article. We’re going to look at some of the best places in Italy to spend Christmas.
And remember, there’s still plenty of time to book a flight and come on over if any of these gorgeous places takes your fancy.
Sorrento
You probably don’t know Sorrento as a typical Italian vacation spot, which should make it all the more appealing to people who want to celebrate Christmas without having to deal with throngs of tourists.
It’s a beautiful coastal town that features a gorgeous old town area. Every year, the residents line this area with gorgeous Christmas decorations that give it an aura quite unlike anything else you may experience in Italy.
But that’s not all. The town holds special festive celebrations in the streets every weekend throughout December. There’s also the enormous Christmas tree that takes residence in Piazza Tasso, which can also entertain thanks to the music and light show that plays periodically. There are also the nativity displays that the churches put on.
But the standout for us has to be Piazzo Lauro. The residents decorate the piazzo like a snow village every year, which really lends it a Christmas feel.
There’s even stuff for the kids to do. You can take them to Villa Fiorentino to meet Santa Claus himself while you sip on a tasty glass of Italian wine.
Rome and the Vatican
We couldn’t get too far down this list without talking about perhaps the most obvious place for you to spend Christmas in Italy.
Rome is, of course, absolutely stunning during the festive period. The city hosts festivities pretty much throughout the entire month of December, with the famous Piazza del Popolo generally hosting 100 nativities on its own. The Piazza Navona transforms into a gorgeous Christmas market too, where you get to sample some tasty foods and a few choice Italian wines.
Of course, we can’t forget about the spiritual aspect of Christmas in all of this too. If you’re in Rome on Christmas Eve, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in mass in one of the city’s many historic churches. You’ll even get to hear some Gregorian chanting if you head on down to the Pantheon.
And then there’s Vatican City.
As you can imagine, the city that hosts the Holy See has its own unique ways of celebrating Christmas.
The Pope delivers a special address every Christmas Eve, though you’ll need to book tickets well in advance if you hope to nab a seat in St. Peter’s Square. You may be best served going in 2019 if you hope to hear the Pope’s speech.
A little more accessible is the enormous Christmas tree, which adorns St. Peter’s Square throughout December. And perhaps most impressive is the nativity that’s in front of the Basilica. It’s a life-sized production that’s among the most impressive in the entire country.
Venice
We all know that Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world and we’d argue that it’s worth a visit at any time of year.
But there’s something truly magical about the city when Christmas comes along.
The decorations play a huge part in this. Thousands of lights get erected as Christmas draws near, which makes it feel like you’re in a literal fairy tale as you travel the city. The gondolas all look the part too, as they’re decked out with their own Christmas lights.
Much like in Rome, Venice’s main piazzas host an assortment of Christmas markers. However, these have a slightly less commercial feel to them. You’ll be able to find some gorgeous glass items made in the Venice town of Murano. Plus, there are plenty of handmade craft items that may tempt your eye.
Murano may be the place that you absolutely have to visit above all others. The home of the world’s finest glass is also the home of the world’s largest glass Christmas tree. Standing at 8.5 metres tall, it’s a true sight to behold.
Sicily
If you want to enjoy a whole host of Christmas traditions but would prefer to avoid the chilly weather of the season, Sicily may be the place for you.
Sicily is nativity central in Italy, as you’ll find all manner or ornate and elaborate nativities erected throughout the region during the winter months. The living nativity in Trapani is a definite sight to behold.
Sicily also plays host to regular bonfires during the festive season, which will go a long way towards warming you up when the temperature does start to dip in the night. Those bonfires signal the start of the holiday feasting, which is the perfect place to sample some gorgeous Italian wines and foods.
And if things all get a little too busy, you can always head to one of the region’s many beaches to lend your Christmas celebrations a slightly different feel.
The Final Word
Italy is one of the best places to spend Christmas simply due to the sheer variety of celebrations that you’ll see in each city. Much like with Italian wine, each Italian city has its own traditions and customs when it comes to celebrating Christmas. What you experience in Venice will be very different from what you experience in Rome.
Yet each is an entrancing and enjoyable as the other. So why not schedule a visit to Italy for the festive season. With a little luck, you’ll be able to celebrate Christmas just as the Italians do.
