Best Christmas destinations in Italy

Browsing from North to South to preview the best Christmas celebrations in Italy, here is a Top 10 destinations-list!

Bolzano (Trentino Alto Adige) is one of the best places in Italy to indulge in purchases, treats, and hot wine from the Christmas markets, among the most beautiful in Italy. The ski-slopes of amazing Dolomites are just around the corner, try to combine both and stay in Val Gardena-Val di Fassa-Val Badia, on the Sellaronda Skitour!

The charm of Venice is even greater when the Christmas lights are reflected in the placid waters of the lagoon! Do not miss the huge sand crib on the beach in Jesolo and the Regata delle Befane (Jan 6th).

In Manarola (5 Terre – Liguria) the hill turns into a huge crib that at night, from the right perspective, becomes a unique show.

In the magical atmosphere of hill-top Montepulciano (Tuscany) returns the largest Christmas Market in Central Italy and the Santa Claus Castle: 1500sqm transformed into Santa’s house where children can see their dreams become true!

Wish to see the biggest Christmas tree in the world? It’s created by illuminating the many trees that outline its profile on the side of Gubbio’s hill, in Umbria.

A huge crib, donated every year from a different region, is hosted in the Vatican (Rome) – in front of St Peter’s Basilica, under the humongous 26m tall Christmas tree. This time it is in wood and comes from Veneto. Simply spectacular!

Obviously, a walk on the inevitable San Gregorio Armeno is a must being in Naples and, if you like cribs, you can even take a masterclass to learn how to make a great one.

Salerno (Amalfi Coast) is among the best places where to admire an incredible play of Christmas artistic lights. It is a show that is absolutely worth seeing, staying at romantic hilltop Ravello, in Parsifal ancient former monastery.

One of the most evocative living nativity scenes is held in Matera. The city was the cinematographic Jerusalem in different movies and it is truly a place that stands still in time!

Itinerant concerts of bagpipers and classical music, exhibitions, animations and games for children, theatrical performances, laboratories, markets, culinary reviews, and processions: welcome to Palermo (Sicily)

Merry Christmas and Arrivederci in the new Year! Barbara

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