If you have decided to spend Christmas abroad this year, we, of course, suggest Tuscany. However, the question of where exactly in Tuscany is a tricky one...there are just too many good options to choose from!
Tuscany is a wonderful destination at Christmas, full of good cheer, good food and good fun. However, each town and city offers something a little different and excels in different areas.
Florence, for example, is the perfect all-rounder as the capital and is also home to the best selection of Christmas markets in the region.
There are plenty of other Tuscan cities to choose from that boast wonderful festive experiences so here are some of our our picks for places to spend your Christmas this year.
Tuscany is a wonderful destination at Christmas, full of good cheer, good food and good fun. However, each town and city offers something a little different and excels in different areas.
Florence, for example, is the perfect all-rounder as the capital and is also home to the best selection of Christmas markets in the region.
There are plenty of other Tuscan cities to choose from that boast wonderful festive experiences so here are some of our our picks for places to spend your Christmas this year.
Lucca
Lucca is a great option as it is so full of Christmas spirit. Its biggest attraction is the market at Piazza Napoleone, which is much more than a mere market. Beginning early in December and continuing into the start of the new year, it is made up of stalls selling little gift and food as well as an ice-skating rink and a carousel. The atmosphere and overall image created by this market is delightfully festive and impossibly pretty.
There are several other markets in the area but one of the other special selling points about Lucca, in particular, is the Natale nel Medioevo market, or “Christmas during the Middle Ages” market, which allows you to taste the traditional and ancient local flavours in the wonderfully preserved setting of Lucca's medieval city centre. Just find a luxury villa in Lucca and experience a medieval Christmas for yourself!
Lucca is a great option as it is so full of Christmas spirit. Its biggest attraction is the market at Piazza Napoleone, which is much more than a mere market. Beginning early in December and continuing into the start of the new year, it is made up of stalls selling little gift and food as well as an ice-skating rink and a carousel. The atmosphere and overall image created by this market is delightfully festive and impossibly pretty.
There are several other markets in the area but one of the other special selling points about Lucca, in particular, is the Natale nel Medioevo market, or “Christmas during the Middle Ages” market, which allows you to taste the traditional and ancient local flavours in the wonderfully preserved setting of Lucca's medieval city centre. Just find a luxury villa in Lucca and experience a medieval Christmas for yourself!
Arezzo
The Basilica di Maria SS.ma delle Grazie, Cappella del Pellegrino in Piazza Masaccio, in the province of Arezzo is home to a presepe or live crib from early December to early January, each year. These presepi are the elaborate Nativity scenes that can be found all across Italy and seen through international news coverage each year. It is an old tradition, dating back to the beginnings of Christianity and has been adopted all over but is still done best in Italy. The presepe in Arezzo differentiates itself from others by holding a very special exhibition of multiple nativity scenes from all around the world. Find a vacation rental in Arezzo and see it for yourself. However, there are also plenty of other presepi around Tuscany to check out, as you can read about here.
Of course, there are plenty of other wonderful cities in Tuscany with plenty to offer a visitor travelling during the Christmas period. Be sure to read on to the following posts in this series for more of our highlights and picks.
The Basilica di Maria SS.ma delle Grazie, Cappella del Pellegrino in Piazza Masaccio, in the province of Arezzo is home to a presepe or live crib from early December to early January, each year. These presepi are the elaborate Nativity scenes that can be found all across Italy and seen through international news coverage each year. It is an old tradition, dating back to the beginnings of Christianity and has been adopted all over but is still done best in Italy. The presepe in Arezzo differentiates itself from others by holding a very special exhibition of multiple nativity scenes from all around the world. Find a vacation rental in Arezzo and see it for yourself. However, there are also plenty of other presepi around Tuscany to check out, as you can read about here.
Of course, there are plenty of other wonderful cities in Tuscany with plenty to offer a visitor travelling during the Christmas period. Be sure to read on to the following posts in this series for more of our highlights and picks.
