How to enjoy the festive season in Florence and the Metropolitan City. Twinkling lights, markets and events mark the magic atmosphere over Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Epiphany

When Christmas comes to historic towns, sprinkling its magic over monuments and iconic places, the atmosphere gets truly unique. This is why Florence is one of the most popular tourist destinations in December. Here, many activities will take place against the backdrop of the city’s enchanting architecture, making the weeks before Christmas very special.

Amongst them, the Florence Light Festival will illuminate the city’s monuments and squares with beams of colourful light. The event brings video-mapping, projections, light games and artistic installation to 15 locations of the city. The Festival starts on 8th December with the symbolic lighting of the giant Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo, which has become a Florentine Christmas tradition not to be missed

Set upon the parvis of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the scene of the nativity will be represented by life-size terracotta statues handmade by artisans in Impruneta.

Piazza Santa Croce will host Christmas markets until 21st December. On 6th January, the Opera of Santa Maria del Fiore will once again organise the historical procession of the Cavalcade of the Magi. The event will bring 700 role-players in the city centre who will re-enact the grand parade depicted by Renaissance master Benozzo Gozzoli in Palazzo Medici Riccardi.

The Christmas decorations will sparkle in Florence and across the entire Metropolitan city. “Natale in Corso” is back in Barberino del Mugello on 8th, 10th and 17th December. In Campi Bisenzio, the Magic Christmas Park will open at Rocca Strozzi until 17th December. Scandicci hosts Natale della Piana on 3rd December while in Palazzuolo sul Senio the festive season will be in full swing on 3rd, 8th, 10th, 17th December with the Christmas markets of Magie dell’Avvento. Londa will once again organise its living nativity scene on Christmas’s Eve and on Epiphany.