Last updated: 11 November 2024
Discover Florence's Christmas traditions with our complete holiday guide. From the historic center to the most characteristic neighborhoods, we'll guide you through the most anticipated events of the Florentine winter season.
Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Repubblica transform into festive settings with traditional markets and artistic light displays. The streets of the historic center, from Via de' Tornabuoni to Ponte Vecchio, host artisanal stalls and typical decorations, while Piazza Santa Croce welcomes the traditional Christmas market with Tuscan gastronomy and local crafts.
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Florence Holiday Light Displays
Festival of Lights: Green Line
- What to Expect
- Historic monument lighting with video projections.
- Description
- The Green Line Light Festival is an event that animates the city of Florence with light installations, video projections, and workshops dedicated to the world of light.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Festival of Lights: Green Line
Florence Holiday Markets and Shopping
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- What to Expect
- Market featuring local artisanal and food products with a focus on sustainability.
- Description
- The Fierucola dell'Immacolata features a market showcasing local artisanal and food products, emphasizing sustainability and ecology. The event includes natural decorations, nativity scenes, and eco-friendly decorations made from natural elements, along with workshops and book presentations.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce
- What to Expect
- Christmas market with traditional German-style wooden stalls.
- Description
- The Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce offers a wide range of holiday products, including decorations, clothing, home items, and culinary delights. The traditional German-style wooden stalls create a genuine and festive atmosphere.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce
Christmas Market at Palazzo Corsini
- What to Expect
- A charity market with dedicated spaces for donated products and gastronomic services.
- Description
- The Christmas Market at Palazzo Corsini offers a wide selection of original products for your Christmas gifts, including clothing, accessories, design items, jewelry, fragrances, and cosmetics. The exhibitors donate part of the proceeds to support the File Foundation, which provides palliative care to seriously ill patients and their families.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Christmas Market at Palazzo Corsini
Florence Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Christmas Concerts in Piazza della Signoria
- What to Expect
- Lighting of Christmas trees with the mayor and the Christmas Company.
- Description
- Christmas concerts in Piazza della Signoria feature the lighting of Christmas trees with the mayor and the Christmas Company. The event includes music and performances by the Light Gospel Choir, the Historical Republic of Florence Parade, and the Val di Fassa Dolomites.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Christmas Concerts in Piazza della Signoria
Acrobatic Show in Piazza della Signoria
- What to Expect
- Acrobatic descent of Santa Claus from the facade of Palazzo Vecchio.
- Description
- On December 17, Santa Claus will descend from the facade of Palazzo Vecchio with his elves, distributing candies to children in Piazza della Signoria.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Acrobatic Show in Piazza della Signoria
Classical Music Concert in Piazza San Lorenzo
- What to Expect
- Classical music concert on the steps of the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
- Description
- The evening concludes with a classical music concert on the steps of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, offering a moment of relaxation and culture to the community.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Classical Music Concert in Piazza San Lorenzo
Gospel Concert in Piazza Santissima Annunziata
- What to Expect
- Gospel Concert with three Gospel choirs.
- Description
- The Gospel Concert in Piazza Santissima Annunziata offers a unique musical experience with three Gospel choirs performing spiritual songs in a historic setting.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Gospel Concert in Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Midnight Mass at the Duomo
- What to Expect
- Solemn and traditional religious ceremony.
- Description
- The Midnight Mass at the Duomo is a religious event that takes place every Christmas Eve, marked by a solemn and traditional ceremony.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Midnight Mass at the Duomo
Marching Bands in Oltrarno
- What to Expect
- High-quality street music spread through Oltrarno's streets.
- Description
- The itinerant marching bands in Oltrarno spread high-quality music through the neighborhood streets, engaging the public with three different musical groups.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Marching Bands in Oltrarno
Florence Other Holiday Activities
Nativity Scene in Piazza Duomo
- What to Expect
- A life-sized nativity scene in terracotta.
- Description
- The nativity scene in Piazza del Duomo is an artistic installation depicting the Holy Family in life-sized terracotta statues, crafted by artisan Luigi Mariani. This nativity scene is located on the piazza in front of the Duomo, near Giotto's Campanile and the city's large Christmas tree, and will remain until Epiphany.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Nativity Scene in Piazza Duomo
Panoramic Wheel at Piazzale Vittorio Veneto
- What to Expect
- 55-meter-high panoramic view of Florence.
- Description
- The Panoramic Wheel at Piazzale Vittorio Veneto offers breathtaking views of Florence with a 55-meter-high wheel. Events and entertainment are available until June 10, 2024.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Panoramic Wheel at Piazzale Vittorio Veneto
Christmas Village at Cascine
- What to Expect
- 55-meter tall Ferris wheel with over 1300 square meter ice skating rink.
- Description
- The Christmas Village at Cascine features a variety of attractions, including a 55-meter tall Ferris wheel, an over 1300 square meter ice skating rink, and a large Christmas tree. The area is filled with shows, animations, and entertainment for both adults and children.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Christmas Village at Cascine
Befana Descends from Palazzo Vecchio
- What to Expect
- Traditional event of stocking delivery to children.
- Description
- The Befana of the Canottieri Comunali Firenze descends from Palazzo Vecchio to deliver stockings to children in a traditional and fun event.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Befana Descends from Palazzo Vecchio
Chapel of the Magi in Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
- What to Expect
- A historic fresco cycle with detailed depictions of the Magi's journey.
- Description
- The Chapel of the Magi is a historic fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence. This cycle of frescoes depicts the journey of the Magi to Jesus, with precise details and sumptuous ornaments.
- Where
- Florence | More Info : Chapel of the Magi in Palazzo Medici-Riccardi