Winter is an ideal time to visit Italy. Not only are there fewer tourists and shorter wait times at the museums and monuments, but there are many unique festivities and traditions only found this time of year. The Christmas festive season starts on December 8th, the date of Immaculate Conception of Mary, and celebrated till January 6th, the day of the Epiphany. For Italians, Christmas festivities focus on the family; locals head to their hometowns to celebrate with loved ones. Meanwhile, light displays and Christmas markets pop up throughout the country. While spending the holidays in the spiritual home of Catholicism (or just a more temperate climate) sounds appealing, it can also be a bit daunting. That’s why we’ve put together this guide of our favorite places to spend Christmas in Italy, and what to do in our top 5 cities.
