Christmas in Italy

All are fantastic cities to go to anytime of the year for as long as possible but you can't beat Venice at Christmas! It is pure magic with the snow falling and the sight of Father Christmas coming down the canal with candy and gifts on a gondola. The snow on the bridges, gondolas, and water is spectacular and there are the Christmas markets with all sorts of Christmas items including sweet treats and warm drinks.

We spent the month of December 2011 here, before we moved. The lights go on Dec 8 (Immaculate Conception) and festivities continue throughout Italy through Epiphany on Jan 6.

All are great cities, although I would be inclined to give you the conventional wisdom practiced here on the Helpline to base yourself in Sorrento, not Naples but it depends on what you plan to do in the area. Italians flock to Sorrento beginning Dec 24, so be prepared and get your reservations made. Christams is a busy busy travel season here! Winter is a great time to visit Pompeii, which is normally very crowded. On a sunny cold day it is magnificent!

Rome has so much to do, I'd have to encourage actually spending the immeidate days around Christmas here: a week or so starting on the 22nd, perhaps. The 26th is also a holiday in Italy, but it is business-as-usual for many sites in Rome. There is no guarantee of snow anywhere.... even in the mountains, where we spent Christmas 2014, the snow was non-existent this year!

There's No place like Napoli at Christmas. It's warm. Spacca Napoli and the other Mercatini streets go into the night, with vendors roasting chestnuts in the dark by the light of shops or under a hand-rigged spotlight. Food is cooking everywhere for suppertime. Homemade Christmas ornaments are on display. Cardboard signs point to handmade Nativity scenes set up inside a nearby Church. Just follow the arrow to share in a cozy, intimate heartfelt mini-monument that rivals the big famous relics. The streets are crowded and full of excitement, music and dance.

Via San Gregorio Armeno may be the most famous street displaying i presepi, but these are No ordinary creches as we know them. The hand-carved figures are rooted in centuries of the history of Napoli, reflecting the values and life of the people.

There are many other Mercatini streets worth the walk. The easiest and fastest way to get a sense of what these are is to Google mercatini streets Napoli. A list will appear and you can read all about them before your trip.

I love Christmas in Naples and in Rome; it's really a tossup for me, but those are my favorites. Any of the cities you list will be a great place to celebrate the holiday.

Thanks kindly for all the replies 👍👍👍

Thanks kindly for all the replies 👍👍👍

Here's Ron In Rome's post about the holidays, starting with Christmas: http://www.roninrome.com/%20shopping-dining/roman-holidays

and I don't know about the lights in any other city, but if you're in Naples, Salerno has GORGEOUS Christmas lights all over the center..