Where is the best place to celebrate Christmas in Italy?

Question

Between Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, which would be the best place to celebrate Christmas?

Answer 1

It depends on what you mean by celebrate... there is no public celebration, apart from the midnight Holy Mass... so maybe you just want to be in a place with a magical atmosphere... then go for Venice. Milan is cahotic till the 24 and deserted afterwards... and not very magical. Rome is beautiful, but not really a Christmas city. On the other hand it's warmer than Venice, so it must be nice to hang around.

Answer 2

Amalfi coast, naturally. But you must reserve long in advance.

Weather fine in winter... you can visit Naples and Pompei, Ravello, Islands etc etc.

Airplain to Naples. What you want best in the life ?

Answer 3

Depends...but if you come to Venice you can also visit the nearest montains-with only one or two hours of car-and you can ski:)and I think Venice is fabolous at Christmast time.

But also Rome is wonderful...go to Rome if you love visit museums and important monuments; if you like history but you want also stay in nature you have to come to Venice!

Answer 4

Rome!

Answer 5

Sueet2b is right.

I'm Italian and I admit that American Christmas is more beautiful. Christmas is getting a day when you must give presents and stay with your family, not else.

You can find decoration lights in the streets but not garland everywhere like in America.

Exclude Milan: it isn't like London. Too cahotic and nothing particular.

I suggest you  to go to Rome or Florence in spring or Autumn.

They are really very very beautiful cities, but nothing special in winter or on christmas day.

I would choose Venice if I were you. It is romantic in all season but amongst the four cities Venice is the best.

Venice is not far from the mountains or Alto Adige/Sud Tirol where the christmas atmosphere is assured. You can find there winter street market and skiing resorts.

Answer 6

uhh...if i were you...id skip italy when it comes to xmas....seriously...

ive been studying here since 2002 and i admit its a completely beautiful country, but when it comes to xmas holiday's its a whole different thing. im use to the american happy jolly holiday, everyone smiling, the lights are up, the christmas tree sales everywhere, people at the stores wiht a santa clause hat, at church people are more open...but here in italy..its NOTHING of that sort.

i have an italian bf since i came 5 years ago and the first winter i thought to myself, 'oh how nice! id love to spend it here in italy wiht his family!' belive it or not...but it turned out to be one of the most depressing days of the year. no christmas lights anywhere,  no xmas trees even being sold, therefore everyone had fake tiny xmas trees, people at the church that xmas night, they were rude..im not making this up..and the xmas dinner at my bf's house wiht his family was just like every other, no one had an extra smile, no one acted differently, it was like an every day dinner...i had expected something totally different..so...

that was my first year..the next year came and i thougth to my self..no cmone gaby...it was just bad luck..give it another chance! so i did..and  belive it or not but again it was IDENTICAL..the same depressing dinner, the same dead look around the house..so it was since that i decided,...

the last place i want to spend any xmas is in italy..skip it!!

i dont want to offend anyone, but im just sharing my experience here.  

one interesting country that ive heard is very beautiful during xmas is Switzerland, in the mountain area..ive never been there during xmas but i have heard its completely beautiful completely.

hope my advice helps!

Answer 7

I'm an Austrian living in Italy and I agree with Sueet2B  100 percent. I had the same sad experiences with my Italian husband's family. But you must understand  them too, they have other customs and it's a little hard to feel like Christmas without snow, cold and Christmas trees (they grow only in the northern part of Italy). If you seek Christmas spirit you have to go to Bolzano (northern Italy - Alto Adige) otherwise I'd choose Venice and forget about X-mas.

Answer 8

Rome, if you are Catholic;  otherwise Firenze!!

Answer 9

Well,in Venice there might be fog in winter.Florence,personally I don't like it.Rome and Milan are quite interesting but if I had to take a choice I would say Rome.

Answer 10

Here in Italy i think the best place to celebrate Christmas is Rome. Not too cold, nice atmosphere and a great xmas tree. Rome it's the city where Vatican is, so christmas it's more pumped up by the presence of the Pope, his celebrations...his hats -.-