The city gets glowed up for the season, with a vast array of festive events filling Florence. Here’s our pick of what to do over the holidays.
Don’t miss all our articles on Christmas in Florence 2024!
Christmas trees
Stand by for the official start of Christmas! On December 8, the city’s spectacular fir trees will be switched on in all their splendour. The traditional lighting of the trees is scheduled for 5.30pm in Cortile di Michelozzo, Palazzo Vecchio, followed by 6pm in piazza del Duomo, 6.30pm in piazza della Repubblica and 7.30pm at piazzale Michelangelo. The Nordmannian firs were donated to the Municipality of Florence by Coldiretti Toscana in partnership with the Giorgio Tesi Group and in collaboration with the Tuscan Regional Council, ranging in size from 11-13 meters high. 59 smaller trees will be spread across Florence.
For the 14th consecutive year, the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore will create a Nativity scene with life-size terracotta statues in piazza del Duomo from December 8 until January 6. The presepe will be blessed at 10.15am on December 8 by the Archbishop of Florence, Monsignor Gherardo Gambelli, before Holy Mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This, year, a third sheep will be added to the Nativity scene created by Luigi Mariani.
Holiday fun
Natale at Manifattura Tabacchi
For the whole month of December, the stores and ateliers of Manifattura Tabacchi offer a special shopping atmosphere and calendar of events for all ages. On the weekends of December 7-8 and 21-22, Building 9 will host the Creative MANI-Factory market, organized by the Heyart association, dedicated to emerging creativity. From food and wine tastings to designers and illustrators, the sales of one-off pieces will be enhanced by dance performances, exhibitions, music by Bioritmo and more, not forgetting workshops for little ones like ‘Today I print like Warhol’, bookmark making, and festive readings.
Florence Lights Up
Videomapping on Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio and San Paolino gathers gazers to share in the Christmas spirit. Lights spread the cheer all over the main squares and monuments of the city, with decorated trees adding to the joy. There’s a wide range of activities organized both in the centre and suburbs, above all aimed at families, and even Santa Claus and his elves show up to enjoy festive Florence, making an appearance in Palazzo Vecchio. Kids can enjoy a train ride through the Cascine Park, with horse-driven carriages taking families through the centre, with the full calendar available on the MUS.E website. The Florence Lights Up initiative was developed in line with the Enjoy Respect Firenze campaign by the Municipality of Florence, carried out by Fondazione Destination Florence and The Florentine’s sister communications company Flod, which claims that “Florence is Alive. Treat it with Care“.
Florence on Ice Village
The Christmas village returns to spread its festive cheer! The 55-meter high Ferris wheel and 1300 square meter ice-skating rink (the largest in Italy!) are usually accompanied by an exciting lineup of (soon-to-announced) unmissable events. (Ferris wheel until March 31)
Christmas at Hard Rock Cafe Florence
The spirit of ‘All is One’ and ‘Love All, Serve All’ are the themes behind the shared Christmas parties designed for small company groups to celebrate together this season. A two-course Christmas dinner is available on December 6, 13 and 20, with great music and festive cheer. A children’s Christmas event takes place from 4-6pm on December 15, with a typical American snack while elves and fairy tales characters amuse little ones with a puppet show by Pupi di Stac and a make up corner by Rock&Painting. For residents of Florence, there’s a 25% discount until December 22. See the full calendar.
Mercato Centrale
Celebrations start on December 6 with a toast as the festive lights are switched on in the San Lorenzo market while a marching band parades through the stalls. On December 7+8 there will be workshops for children and Santa Claus even makes an appearance on December 14.
La Fattoria delle Feste
Tenuta Vignamaggio nestled in the Chianti hills host everything from Christmas card making to wreath workshops, with the chance to craft your own festive centrepiece and even cyanotype botanical workshops for little ones, with the calendar spreading holiday cheer from December 13 to January 6.
Four Seasons Open Day
The PIC EO artists of the Trisomia 21 Association (working to support those with Down syndrome and their families) can be found in the spectacular Gherardesca Garden as part of the annual charity event that sees entertainment, gourmet food by local producers and more, with all proceeds donated to Trisomia 21 and Contesto Ets.
Arezzo Città del Natale and Empoli Città del Natale
From light shows and enchanted forests to Santa himself, Arezzo and Empoli are transformed into winter wonderlands complete with a long list of festive activities making them unmissable additions to your Christmas calendar.
Exhibitions
Angela Detanico and Rafael Lain are the artists behind Flowering of Light, a large video installation on display in the Sala d’Arme in Palazzo Vecchio from December 8 to January 8, curated by Sergio Risaliti.
Tastings
Christmas Experience at Ruffino
On December 14+15, Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Casciano opens its doors from 10am to 7pm for a visit of the historic cellars and the renovated spaces of the estate. Enjoy a tasting of Ruffino wines that await you together with plenty of Christmas gift ideas, crafted to make your celebrations unforgettable. For info and bookings, contact hospitality@ruffino.it or call 055 6499750.
Concerts + ballet
Swan Lake
One of the world’s most loved ballets, Swan Lake, ensures an unforgettable experience over the festive period with Teatro della Pergola hosting the acclaimed performers from the Opera Națională Română Iași (Romanian National Opera) at 5pm and 9pm on December 22, with tickets purchasable via ticketone.it. The skilled dancers of Iasi Opera Ballet, one of the most acclaimed classical dance companies, has been touring Europe for more than 24 years, bringing this masterpiece to the historic Teatro della Pergola stage with evocative scenography and light designs that immerse audiences in the magical atmosphere, a quintessentially festive experience close to Christmas.
Concert di Natale
Orchestra della Toscana performs a Christmas concert with Wagner’s Träume and Siegfried Idyll, as well as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 op.92, on December 24. There are a series of unmissable family-friendly performances also, such as The Snowman on December 14.
Christmas Concert
Celebrate the season with an evening being serenaded with music by the caliber of Debussy, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, and Wagner, with a festive selection in keeping with the pre-Christmas feeling at Teatro del Maggio on December 22.
Markets
The22 Christmas Souk
The holistic wellness club celebrates its fourth annual Christmas Souk from 2-7pm on December 7 with a signature seasonal market featuring local vendors and artisans, with bites provided by Shake Café.
NataleperFile
The Christmas market in the stunning setting raises funds for Fondazione Italiana di Leniterapia, a charity working to assist seriously ill patients and their families. The 21st edition of the market features high-quality clothing, accessories, design items, fragrances, cosmetics, food, wine and more, with delicious Panettone and Pandoro for sale as well as lottery tickets with prizes. There’ll even be a File Café refreshment point set up in the Ninfeo del Palazzo.
Palazzo Corsini December 6-8; 10am-7pm. Free entry
Christmas Bazaar
The American International League of Florence hold their popular Christmas Bazaar, raising funds for local charities. The special edition that takes place ahead of their 50th anniversary sees a vast range of clothes, accessories, bric and brac, books, Christmas decorations and more to get into the spirit of giving.
Tepidarium December 6-8
Busajo NGO Christmas Market
From 10am to 7pm on December 7+8, a Christmas market raises funds for Busajo NGO, a charity that works towards reintegrating street children from the city of Soddo in Ethiopia into families and society.
Sala delle Ex Leopoldine, piazza Tasso 7 December 7+8
Joulutori – Nordic Christmas Market
A market organized by the Italo-Finnish association, Firenzen Suomi-Seura brings together books, Christmas decorations, gift ideas, toys and children’s items with LìLà Toy Store present, as well as chocolates, sweets, and other typical Northern European treats. Little ones can enjoy creative workshops and readings of fairy tales under the Christmas tree, and Joulupukki, Santa Claus straight from Lapland, will even make an appearance!
Sala dei Marmi, Parterre November 30-December 1
Mercato di Natale
Christmas fever starts to seep into the city, with piazza Santa Croce hosting the much-loved market in the picturesque piazza. Characteristic wooden huts fill with the scents, sounds and flavours of the festive season, with Santa saying hello and live music adding to the atmosphere.
piazza Santa Croce Until December 22
Fierucola dell’Immacolata
The traditional market is packed with sustainable, artisanal items, with voluntary associations present to share the work they carry out.
piazza Santissima Annunziata December 7-8; 9.30am-6.30pm
Fierucola di Natale
Artisanal food products from small producers come to the central piazza, providing ample choice for Christmas.
piazza Ognissanti December 15; 9.30am-6.30pm
Women in Charge Christmas Bazaar
The talent, creativity and entrepreneurship of women is celebrated in the third edition of the WIC Christmas Bazaar, showcasing the work of Florentine artisans, creatives and entrepreneurs.
Net Records Loft, via Guglielmo Massaia, Rifredi December 7+8
Mercato di Natale Pallium
Choose among the many objects and products for sale in exchange for donations that go towards supporting Pallium’s home healthcare assistance.
Grand Hotel Adriatico December 7+8
Christmas in the community
Creative People in Florence (via dei Serragli 58r) host a Christmas pop-up from 10.30am-7pm, December 6-8, with art, illustrations and handmade gifts by 5 talented artists. Workshops will be held throughout the day, with no booking necessary. From 7-10pm on December 8, Erica Gabriella leads a knitting workshop in collaboration with Bettaknit, leading you to make your own woolly bonnet. Call 3470912992 to book. From 10.30am-7.30pm on December 17-19, head to the CPIF space for ‘4 women’s crafts for Christmas’, where jewellery, ceramics, prints and clothes come together for three days of creativity, including printmaking workshops (book via IG @les_grandes_et_petites_marion). Kirstie Mathieson, Anna Rose and Sara Amrhein then share the space alongside other wonderful artists and creative crafters from December 20-22 for three days of one-off pieces finished off by raising a glass to Christmas. The Open Doors winter edition coincides with the Creative Christmas event from 6-9pm on December 20, when local artists, crafters and stores on via dei Serragli open their doors to share goodwill and demonstrate their mestiere.
Fondazione CR Firenze inaugurates a new charity shop in the former pharmacy of Santa Maria Nuova, with various objects available in exchange for donations that for this first opening will go towards the Foemina ETS Foundation and the Istituto degli Innocenti ETS Foundation. The store will be open on December 13, 14, 19 20 and 21.
The British Institute of Florence (lungarno Guicciardini 9) host Elaine Ruffolo speaking about ‘Feasting in the Renaissance’ on December 11. An open-to-all free entry Christmas Fair takes place from 3-6pm on December 6, where stalls sell books, unique handmade gifts and goods, as well as a tea and cake station. At 6.30pm on December 18, their annual Christmas Concert is an unmissable mix of readings and singing with mulled wine. Free admission and open to all.
The Children’s Lending Library (situated under St James on via Rucellai 9) holds a Christmas party on December 14, with a visit from Santa Claus, face painting, crafts, caroling, baked goods, games and much more. Members enter free of charge, with 3 euro per family for non-members.
St. Mark’s English Church (via Maggio 16) will be decorating the Church and the Christmas trees at 10am on December 7, with Christingle Making at 2pm on December 13. Wreath making at 7pm on December 11, costing 10 euro with aperitivo and all materials included. Carol singing will be from 6.30pm on December 17, meeting at St Mark’s before walking to piazza Santo Spirito, all welcome.
Casa Mosaico (piazza Donatello 18) hosts a Christmas Movie Night on December 7, with Elf screened from 5pm, in English with Italian subtitles.
Cinema screenings
Apericinema
The swanky Cinema Paradiso at 25hours Hotel Florence screens a series of Christmas Classics this December with popcorn thrown in for good measure and an intriguing drinks menu. The lineup includes much-loved favourites like Home Alone, The Grinch, and Nancy Meyers’ The Holiday.
Religious services
St. James Episcopal Church (via Bernardo Rucellai 9) celebrates Christmas with a festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 11am on December 15, followed by a concert by the Choir of Kent College – Canterbury, performing music for advent and Christmas at 6.30pm. On December 24, the First Mass of Christmas with choir, organ and brass accompaniment will be at 6pm, with Midnight Mass with hymns at 11pm. On Christmas Day, Mass with hymns will be at 10am.
St. Mark’s English Church (via Maggio 16) hold a carol service at 6.30pm on December 15, with a special service of lessons and carols, followed by mince pies and mulled wine. Midnight Mass and the first Eucharist of Christmas is at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve, with Christmas Eucharist at 10.30am on Christmas Day. See their other community events above.
The Santi Apostoli Roman Catholic Church have mass on December 24 at 5pm in English, and 6pm in Italian. The Christmas Vigil Mass will be in both Italian and English at 11pm. Christmas Day Mass in English will be at 10.15am, with Italian services at 11.45am and 7pm.
Get in touch with Florence’s vibrant Jewish community for their calendar and information on guided tours of the Synagogue and museum.
New Year’s Eve
Five squares across Florence ring in the New Year in style. There’ll be gospel choirs in piazza San Giovanni, jazz in piazza Santissima Annunziata, a live orchestra with dance in piazza Santa Croce, and marching bands moving along via Palazzuolo and via Finiguerra, stopping in piazza del Carmine. Piazza della Signoria will be the site for a live entertainment show with all kinds of surprises.
