The Christmas season in Florence, and across Italy, starts in early December. During the first days of the month, in fact, storekeepers decorate their shop windows for the holidays and the city of Florence begins to place public decorative lights along all the city streets.
FEAST OF THE IMMACOLATA - DECEMBER 8
December 8 in Italy is a National holiday that celebrates the Immaculate Conception. This day of festivity unofficially starts the countdown to Christmas as many families traditionally use this day to set up and decorate their Christmas tree and Nativity scene (also known as a creche) in their homes, although that tradition is changing.
The large Christmas tree set up in the magnificent setting of Piazza del Duomo is lit up on December 7th at 6pm. The lighting up of the Christmas tree is accompanied by an official public ceremony with the participation of Florence's mayor and other events, such as concerts and entertainment. On the same day, there are other Christmas trees in the center that are lit up for the first time: at 5.30pm in Palazzo Vecchio's cortile di Michelozzo, at 6.30pm in Piazza della Repubblica and at 7.30pm up in Piazzale Michelangelo. There are many other trees of various sizes set up across piazzas in the various neighborhoods beyond the center.
Also in Piazza del Duomo you'll find the Nativity scene/creche set up in front of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The Nativity has beautiful life-size statues made in terracotta by an artisan of Impruneta, a small town outside of Florence famous for their production of terracotta home and garden items. The baby Jesus is only placed on Christmas Day, of course.
Both the Christmas tree and the Nativity scene are up until January 6, the day of the Epiphany.
The Uffizi and Accademia Gallery are generally open on December 8, since it is a religious holiday although if the day falls during the week, it becomes a bank holiday and schools are closed.
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Florence Lights Up
The theme for this year's Festival of Lights is "Florence Lights Up" and this means there will be many projections and other video maps on the main monuments of the cty center. Starting December 7th through January 7th. 2025, the light festival officially starts with the lighting of the Christmas trees placed in front of the Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo and Piazza della Repubblica. For an entire month, the city's monuments and piazzas in Florence are illuminated with video-mapping, projections and other "light" games as part of a holiday event that has become quite important for its type across Europe.
Everyday from 5.30pm to midnight, the city is lit up thanks to many artistic lighting projects. This includes a video-mapping on Ponte Vecchio, as well as Palazzo Vecchio, the garden in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi where another tree is placed and the church of San Paolino, Piazza Santa Maria Novella and the palace of the Chamber of Commerce.
There are many monuments and locations across the center of Florence that are part of the festival, inlcuding the "shiny" display of lights of the Rinascente department store in piazza della Repubblica and on the Palazzo della Mercanzia in Piazza della Signoria, courtesy of the fashion house Gucci. There will also be special decorations along via Tornabuoni, and the towers and old gates of the city will shine bright every night.
Over 200 trees with over 60km of LED Christmas lights across the city, from the "viali di circonvallazione" to the streets in the outer residential neighborhoods are also part of the light festival for the holiday season.
CHRISTMAS MARKETS AND SHOPPING
Many Christmas markets take place in Florence and the surroundings in the weeks before Christmas (especially during the weekends). Here you'll find gifts of various kinds, from furnishings, food, and wine.
The biggest Christmas market in Florence is located in Piazza Santa Croce, and generally goes from the second part of November to a few days before Christmas. It draws on the tradition of German Christmas markets, with the traditional small wooden houses serving as stands, and offers different items from crafts to food products, small pieces of furniture and Christmas decorations. There are both foreign and Italian exhibitors.
In 2024, the Christmas market runs from the 23rd of November to 22th of December, everyday from 10 am to 10 pm.
Those that love walking the streets and shopping will find shops open every day until Christmas, both in the historical center and in the outskirts.
Among the traditional markets of the period, you can visit the Fierucola dell'Immacolata (Small Fair of the Immaculate) organized in Piazza SS Annunziata on the 8th of December and another one to look out for handmade local items and food products is the ARTour market in piazza Strozzi on the weekends of December 13-15 and December 20-23.
In Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the market "CHRISTMArs, Christmas for Ars Manualis" will be held from December 7-22.
You will also find many smaller Christmas markets in the different neighborhoods of the historical center, mainly organized on the weekends.
If you're going to visit the surroundings of Florence, you'll find many smaller Christmas markets and fairs in the Mugello area, but also in many towns across Chianti and in Fiesole. Read our article on Christmas markets in Florence and Tuscany for a more complete list.
FUN HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
This year the heart of these activities are centered at the start of the Cascine Park, in piazzale Vittorio Veneto. From December 1st to January 19, 2025 you will find the colorful, bright and 55 meter high Ferris wheel set up with a skating rink at its foot. In the area around the rink you will also find the Christmas village with food and other stands offering lots of gift possibilities starting from the weekend of December 7/8th.
Both the ferris wheel and the ice skating rink are open everyday from 10am to midnight, while the Christmas market, once it open, should be open from 10am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday and 3pm to 8pm Monday to Friday. Paid entrance to the rink and Ferris wheel (12 euros full price, 7 euros for kids under 10, and family packages are available for each of the main attractions, ice skates can be rented on site for 2 euros per pair).
The ferris wheel will remain on-site longer than the rink, until the end of March 2025. The area will host different markets and activities as the months change. It is easy to reach the area with the line 1 of the tram system, getting off at either "Cascine" or "Porta al Prato - Leopolda".
Within Palazzo Vecchio's Cortile di Michelozzo, from December 7th to the 24th, you will find Santa Clause's house where kids can write and drop off their Christmas letter to Santa Clause, while weekends they can meet the cordial Santa Clause.
After the success of last year, the city once again offers rides in carriages called "Passeggiando in Carrozza" on the weekends of this holiday season. Kids from 3 to 10 years old (with an adult) have the possibility of crossing the historical center in a horse-drawn carriage along three routes: once to Santa Maria Novella, another to Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the third to Palazzo Vecchio.
Then there is the small train that offers a ride through the Cascine park, called the Trenino nel parco. The activity is once again aimed at kids between the ages of 3 and 10 (with an adult) aboard a small train (starting point is the start of viale Abramo Lincoln), making stops along the way across the various areas of the Cascine park. At the end of the ride, kids will get to meet up with Santa Clause!
You need to book both of these activities ONLINE. The Passeggiando in Carrozza can be booked through this link
The train ride activity Il trenino nel parco can be booked through this link
If you want more details on these activities, check this page on the Muse Firenze website.
On Sunday, December 15 at 11.30am head to Piaza della Signoria to witness elves and Santa Claus descend from the top of Palazzo Vecchio and unroll a long banner and land on the front of Palazzo Vecchio (show offered by Confcommercio and Edilizia Acrobatica), while on January 6, the Befana will arrive in a similar manner in Piazza della Repubblica and then hand out sweets to kids.
Also on December 15, Florence mayor Sara Funaro will preside over the traditional holiday ceremony from the city, from the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio at 6pm, with the performance of the ReMuto rhythmic symphonic orchestra and the Corteo Storico of the Florentine Republic.
On this same Sunday, December 15, you can head to the Hard Rock Cafe in Florence for an entertaining afternoon for the entire family! From 4-6pm.
RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS
Those who wish to attend Mass on Christmas Eve and Day may find celebrations in most of the churches of Florence and beyond.
In the Cathedral of Florence, the traditional Christmas Eve Mass is celebrated by the Cardinal of Florence at midnight (Vigil prayers start at 11pm). On Christmas morning, Mass is celebrated at 10:30am, in conjunction with the Pope's blessing in Rome.
MUSEUMS OPEN DURING CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Museums in Florence are generally only closed on December 25th and January 1st, although this year a few city museums will be open on Christmas Day: Palazzo Vecchio, the basilica of Santa Maria Novella, and the Museo degli Innocenti. Palazzo Strozzi with its current exhibition on Helen Frankenthaler is open all day.
You can find additional information on the planned openings of Florence's major museums during the Christmas holidays here.
NEW YEAR’S EVE 2025
New Year's Eve in Florence is generally celebrated across several of the main squares of the city with concerts of various kinds, from classical music to Gospel and other events in other piazzas.
The program includes musical concerts, shows and other entertainment for the entire family, including children: the events will spread across the historical center in 5 piazzas. Piazza Signoria will have mixed shows, with light shows on the Palazzo Vecchio facade, projections and music starting at 9pm and running until 1am, while Piazza Santissima Annunziata will host a Jazz musical concert starting at 9.30pm and continuing through midnight.
You can find gospel music in Piazza del Duomo and in Piazza Santa Croce there will be a live orchestra playing dance music.
Marching bands will enliven the evening in the Oltrarno area by moving around the neighborhood's streets starting at 9.30pm, with a stop in Piazza del Carmine at midnight to welcome the new year and roaming around via del Palazzuolo and via Maso Finguerra.
EPIPHANY
On January 6, the day of the Epiphany, the Catholic Church celebrates the arrival of the Magi to Bethlehem and the delivery of their gifts to baby Jesus. In Italy, it is a feast day and most shops are closed.
Florence celebrates the Epiphany with the "Cavalcade of the Magi", a grand parade in the historical center which evokes the journey of the Magi and the delivery of the gifts to baby Jesus, arriving to the Nativity scene set up in front of the Duomo in Piazza del Duomo. The reenactment, in magnificent costume, involves many people from all over Italy and is a traditional and special event we recommend you see if you are in town. You can find more information and beautiful photos of the event in the Cavalcade of the Magi here.
*** THE CAVALCADE IS NOT BEING HELD IN 2025 ***
Also on the 6th at 11.30am, you can head to piazza della Repubblica to see the Befane descend from both the arc and the Rinascente store, a show offered by Confcommercio and Edilizia Acrobatica. If you don't know who the Befana is, head there and check it out!
If you're in Florence during the Christmas holidays, you should also visit the marvelous Chapel of the Magi frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli inside Palazzo Medici Riccardi. It is a small, precious frescoed chapel in the palazzo which traces the journey of the Three Wise Men. It is, of course, open all year, but in this season it is a must-see considering the theme!
LAST UPDATE: December 5, 2024
We make every effort to offer correct and up to date information, but please double check on the official websites we link to before finalizing your visit to ensure there haven't been any changes in the meantime!
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