We recently wrote about Florence at Christmas and how it is lit up and made even more beautiful and magical over the Holiday Season by the incredible lights and projections of the F-Light Festival. The amazing beauty of the city and its seasonal trimmings alone is reason enough to find a luxury villa in Florence and get planning a winter break in Tuscany but there is another excellent incentive: the variety of amazing Christmas markets that take place in the city each year. Whether you are looking to shop for unique gifts and souvenirs or merely want to wander around and take in the festive atmosphere, Florence and her numerous Christmas markets are exactly what the doctor ordered! Here are just five examples that you should visit if you’re in the city this Christmas.
1. The Weihnachtsmarkt
The Weihnachtsmarkt, which takes place in Piazza Santa Croce, is the city’s most famous and biggest annual Christmas market and is named for, and based on, the style of Christmas markets that you can typically find in Germany. Launching on the 23rd of November 2019 and continuing until the 22nd of December 2019, the market is open daily from 10am to 10pm and features a little Christmas village made up of the little wooden huts that are found in markets in Germany and the north of Italy, from which various merchants are selling gifts, handmade crafts, food, beer, mulled wine, and plenty of other culinary specialities from all over Europe.
1. The Weihnachtsmarkt
The Weihnachtsmarkt, which takes place in Piazza Santa Croce, is the city’s most famous and biggest annual Christmas market and is named for, and based on, the style of Christmas markets that you can typically find in Germany. Launching on the 23rd of November 2019 and continuing until the 22nd of December 2019, the market is open daily from 10am to 10pm and features a little Christmas village made up of the little wooden huts that are found in markets in Germany and the north of Italy, from which various merchants are selling gifts, handmade crafts, food, beer, mulled wine, and plenty of other culinary specialities from all over Europe.
2. Fierucola dell'Immacolata
In addition to the Weihnachtsmarkt, there are some smaller, traditional Tuscan Christmas markets that take place in Florence in the run up to Christmas. On the 7th and 8th of December, in the Piazza S.S. Annunziata you will find one excellent example of these, the Fierucola dell'Immacolata. This is a smaller Christmas market (its name literally meaning the Small Fair of the Immaculate) and is inspired by traditional country values and practices. It is where you can get your hands on delicious organic snacks, treats, and specialities, as well as handmade crafts and artworks.
3. Open Day At the Four Seasons Florence
Each year, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel on Via Borgo Pinti in Florence opens its doors and welcomes the general public into the hotel and gardens for an annual fundraising event with the proceeds this year going to the Patrizio Cipollini Foundation. This event comes in the shape of a Christmas market wherein visitors pay €1 to enter and then can sample culinary delights from Florence’s finest restaurants, browse gifts, food, and wine for sale, listen to some gospel music, and enjoy a little slice of luxury for the day. Taking place this year on the 15th of December 2019 from 10am to 4pm, it offers a unique Christmas market experience.
In addition to the Weihnachtsmarkt, there are some smaller, traditional Tuscan Christmas markets that take place in Florence in the run up to Christmas. On the 7th and 8th of December, in the Piazza S.S. Annunziata you will find one excellent example of these, the Fierucola dell'Immacolata. This is a smaller Christmas market (its name literally meaning the Small Fair of the Immaculate) and is inspired by traditional country values and practices. It is where you can get your hands on delicious organic snacks, treats, and specialities, as well as handmade crafts and artworks.
3. Open Day At the Four Seasons Florence
Each year, the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel on Via Borgo Pinti in Florence opens its doors and welcomes the general public into the hotel and gardens for an annual fundraising event with the proceeds this year going to the Patrizio Cipollini Foundation. This event comes in the shape of a Christmas market wherein visitors pay €1 to enter and then can sample culinary delights from Florence’s finest restaurants, browse gifts, food, and wine for sale, listen to some gospel music, and enjoy a little slice of luxury for the day. Taking place this year on the 15th of December 2019 from 10am to 4pm, it offers a unique Christmas market experience.
4. AILO Christmas Bazaar
On the 30th of November (3-6pm) 2019 and the 1st of December (10am-6pm) 2019, the Tepidarium in the Giardino dell’Orticoltura will play host to the AILO (the American International League of Florence, which is an association of volunteers that raise funds to fund specific projects for non-profit organisations in Florence) Christmas Bazaar once more, seeing the beautiful old greenhouse host various stalls selling vintage clothes, books in Italian and English, handmade objects and Christmas decorations, as well as putting on a lottery and silent auction in which you can bid for prizes from some of Tuscany’s best stores, wineries, and restaurants.
5. Italian Red Cross Christmas Market
Another great charitable Christmas market in Florence is the Italian Red Cross Christmas Market, which takes place from November the 29th to December the 1st 2019 from 10am to 6.30pm each day (but just from 3-6.30pm on the 30th of November) at Palazzo Capponi. Come and browse the vintage and designer clothes, toys, and unique items of jewellery, and know that any purchases will be guilt-free and go towards a good cause, helping out local families in need in Florence over the Christmas season.
So, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on spending Christmas (or time in the run up to Christmas) in Italy, you’re in luck as there are lots of very special markets to explore in the city!
On the 30th of November (3-6pm) 2019 and the 1st of December (10am-6pm) 2019, the Tepidarium in the Giardino dell’Orticoltura will play host to the AILO (the American International League of Florence, which is an association of volunteers that raise funds to fund specific projects for non-profit organisations in Florence) Christmas Bazaar once more, seeing the beautiful old greenhouse host various stalls selling vintage clothes, books in Italian and English, handmade objects and Christmas decorations, as well as putting on a lottery and silent auction in which you can bid for prizes from some of Tuscany’s best stores, wineries, and restaurants.
5. Italian Red Cross Christmas Market
Another great charitable Christmas market in Florence is the Italian Red Cross Christmas Market, which takes place from November the 29th to December the 1st 2019 from 10am to 6.30pm each day (but just from 3-6.30pm on the 30th of November) at Palazzo Capponi. Come and browse the vintage and designer clothes, toys, and unique items of jewellery, and know that any purchases will be guilt-free and go towards a good cause, helping out local families in need in Florence over the Christmas season.
So, if you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are planning on spending Christmas (or time in the run up to Christmas) in Italy, you’re in luck as there are lots of very special markets to explore in the city!