Welcome to the enchanting city of Florence, Italy! In this travel guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the captivating streets of Firenze during the magical Christmas season. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Florence as we explore its iconic landmarks, including the magnificent Santa Croce. From the breathtaking architecture to the rich history, Florence has it all. Join us on this unforgettable trip and discover the highlights of Florence, Italy. Get ready to be mesmerized by the charm of this incredible city!
0:00 Intro
1:43 #1 Christmas Market Piazza Santa Croce
2:19 #2 Light displays
3:44 #3 Visit museums without crowds
4:43 #4 Eat without waiting in lines
5:29 #5 Sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo
6:17 #6 Daytrip to Arezzo
8:36 Silly outro
Florence is magical! Florence at Christmas is the most magical city at the most magical time. Bonjourno or buonasera adventure seekers & world travelers, it’s the The Destination Dibbles excited to share with you a very special Christmas edition in Firenze, Italia.
So this adventure starts with a funny story as we were watching Hallmark movies in November and while viewing one set in Rome we spontaneously decided that the Destination Dibbles would book a trip to Italy during the off-season to see just exactly how the Italians celebrate Christmas. Well,
Upon arrival we knew immediately our family had made the right decision. Originally, we were going to spend our entire Christmas in Rome, but decided that Florence had to be included in the itinerary and if you subscribe or have
Seen other videos in our channel, you know, we had to take a couple off the beaten path trips to some of the unique and smaller cities just outside of Rome and Florence as well . So, with no further ado, here’s our Top 6 things to do in Florence during December.
NUMBER 1 – Visit the Christmas village in Piazza Santa Croce Piazza Santa Croce is transformed into a Christmas market where you can try Vin Brule (a mulled wine with spices) and visit all of the little Christmas shops while snacking on some delicacies. We visited this area twice and enjoyed every memory made here.
#2 Walk the streets after sunset to admire the magical lights, including the light projections on the side of buildings in Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Repubblica, and the Ponte Vecchio, take in the large Christmas trees at the Piazza del Duomo, Piazzale Michelangelo,
And be sure to walk up the river to see the giant wrapped Christmas gift in the smaller Piazza Santa Trinita where street performers fill the air every night with wonderful music. Number 3 – Visit the galleries, museums, and interactive exhibits without the lines. During
This holiday vacation we chose to visit the Pitti Palace and not only did we pay a discounted rate for entry since it was the off-season, but we were able to walk right up to the ticket booth and straight into the palace without waiting in any lines.
We also enjoyed the Leonardo da Vinci interactive museum and spent time admiring Leonardo’s incredible accomplishments. Number 4 – Visit the highly rated restaurants and sandwich shops without having to wait in line. We were able to walk up to the world famous All’antico Vinaio,
Which normally has a line down the block and we were able to order immediately. We were also able to enjoy sitting at some of the restaurants in the piazzas at night with a spectacular view without a waiting at all.
Number 5 – Watch the sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo, which is really a must do for any time of the year in Florence but when you visit in December, the sun sets at 5pm so you can take in a magical sunset with a beautiful Christmas tree behind
You and still have time to make dinner plans. It’s best in our opinion to adventure here on a Friday or Saturday as it’s a more lively experience than early in the week this time of the year.
One pro tip is is to avoid purchasing expensive wine or drinks at the food trucks immediately on the steps of the Piazzale Michelangelo. If you want an authentic experience venture directly across the street to a food truck that’s been in the area since 1952 and has the prices to match.
Number 6 – Take a day trip to the incredible city that transforms into a Christmas wonderland Arezzo, which is less than an hour by train from Florence. Here in Arezzo there are Christmas themed markets throughout the city, the entire Piazza Grande is adorned with light
Projections and a Christmas village, there’s an entire Christmas area in the Medici Park, including a giant Ferris wheel, a merry go round and ice-skating. And lastly the old the medieval Medici Fortress that is normally closed during the off-season is open
To the public and features lights, nativity scenes, and other fun things to do including viewing the entire city to include the lit cemetery over the fortress walls at night. We hope you enjoyed a holiday experience in Florence, Italy. This is why you off-season and stay after sunset.
Because nobody is here and you own the city. That’s right, you own it. Ciao ciao.