Last updated: 11 November 2024
Ready for the holiday season in Rome? Our complete guide takes you through all the festive events and activities in the Eternal City, both for residents and visitors who wish to discover Rome's Christmas atmosphere.
From the majestic Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square to the traditional stalls in Piazza Navona, Rome transforms into a festive journey connecting its most famous monuments. Christmas markets, lights in the historic center, and nativity scenes in historic churches create an itinerary that winds from the Vatican through Via del Corso to Piazza Venezia, offering an experience that combines tradition and culture.
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Rome Holiday Light Displays
Trame di Luce Light Festival
- What to Expect
- Luminescent installations inspired by the Christmas theme
- Description
- Trame di Luce is a light art exhibition held at the Orto Botanico in Rome, featuring a path of luminescent installations inspired by the theme "Christmas has a new light." This event combines art and nature, offering a multisensory experience with over 20 unique installations and author selfie points.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : Trame di Luce Light Festival
Rome Holiday Markets and Shopping
Piazza Navona Christmas Market
- A historic Christmas market with festive food specialties and decorations.
- The Christmas Market in Piazza Navona is a traditional event in Rome, where the square is filled with lights and wooden stalls. The stands offer typical Christmas specialties, festive decorations, and suggestive nativity scenes, toys, handmade crafts, and books for both children and adults. Santa Claus, La Befana, puppet theater, and street artists are also present.
- Rome | More Info : Piazza Navona Christmas Market
Christmas Market in Piazza Mazzini
- What to Expect
- Sixty wooden stalls with handmade crafts and delicious food.
- Description
- The Christmas Market at Piazza Mazzini features sixty wooden stalls with handmade crafts and delicious food. There are Christmas carols, star-shaped lights, and a Santa's House for children. The atmosphere is marked by Christmas lights, holiday crafts, and wonderful creations.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : Christmas Market in Piazza Mazzini
Rome Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Cinecitta’ World Christmas
- What to Expect
- Christmas village with over 220 large light installations.
- Description
- Cinecittà World transforms into a large Christmas village with 40 attractions, shows, and light installations. Visitors can enjoy traditional sweets, admire decorations and lights, and visit Santa Claus's house.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : Cinecitta’ World Christmas
Christmas Market near the Rome Auditorium
- What to Expect
- A diverse schedule of concerts and shows for all tastes.
- Description
- The Mercatino di Natale at the Auditorium features a rich schedule of pop, jazz, and rock concerts, as well as the Roma Gospel Festival and children's shows in collaboration with the Globe Theatre. The event also includes OPS!, a contemporary circus showcase with international companies.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : Christmas Market near the Rome Auditorium
Christmas Concerts at St. Paul's Within the Walls
- What to Expect
- Christmas concert with exceptional voices in three Italian locations.
- Description
- The Concerto di Natale at San Paolo dentro le Mura features a night of classical Christmas music with pieces by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Haendel, performed by the exceptional voices of Giulia Presti and Emil Alekperov.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : Christmas Concerts at St. Paul's Within the Walls
La Traviata at St. Paul's Within the Walls
- What to Expect
- "Opera performance with ballet choreographies"
- Description
- "La Traviata is a three-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi, exclusively presented by Opera e Lirica with internationally renowned artists. The opera tells the story of the courtesan Violetta, who falls in love with Alfredo Germont, a young man from a good family. The story takes place in Paris in the 19th century and follows the vicissitudes of Violetta, who suffers from tuberculosis, and her impossible love with Alfredo."
- Where
- Rome | More Info : La Traviata at St. Paul's Within the Walls
The Three Tenors in Rome
- What to Expect
- Concert of tenor voices performing opera arias and Neapolitan songs.
- Description
- I Tre Tenori in Rome features a concert of enchanting tenor voices, performing the most famous Italian opera arias and Neapolitan songs.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : The Three Tenors in Rome
December Opera Performance
- What to Expect
- New production with direction by Simon Stone and conducting by Michele Mariotti.
- Description
- Mefistofele is an opera in one prologue, four acts, and an epilogue, with music by Arrigo Boito and a libretto based on Goethe's Faust. The direction is by Simon Stone and the conductor is Michele Mariotti.
- Where
- Rome | More Info : December Opera Performance