Rome, as home to Vatican City, the centre of the Roman Catholic world is, understandably, a wonderful place to spend Christmas. While Christmas Day itself and New Years Day see almost everything shut down bar some shops, restaurants, and hotels, the days around the holiday transform the already famously beautiful city into something altogether more special and magical. If you have been considering spending the Holidays abroad this year and you are looking for a suitable destination then why not browse our wonderful luxury vacation rentals in Rome? We have lots of chic and cosy properties located all across the city that would make for a perfect temporary home away from home where comfort, Italian style, elegance, pretty views and surroundings, and ready access to some of the most famous tourist attractions in the entire world all come together. Come with family members or loved ones, experience the magic and beauty of the Eternal City lit up and decorated for the season, and then return home to one of our incredible luxury rentals to warm up, spend quality time, eat, and make memories that will last a lifetime together!
There are plenty of reasons as to why Rome makes for an excellent Christmas destination but here are five of the most compelling in our opinion...
There are plenty of reasons as to why Rome makes for an excellent Christmas destination but here are five of the most compelling in our opinion...
1. The Lights And Decorations
As noted, Rome is already quite the looker – you probably don't need to be told that, do you? However, the city becomes even more lovely when it is lit up with Christmas lights strung across the streets, when shop windows are adorned with festive displays, and all sorts of other decorations are erected all over Rome. Some of the best places to check out the beautiful arrangements of twinkling fairy lights, lanterns, and other glittering decorations include Via dei Condotti, Via del Governo Vecchio, Via Giulia, Via Merulana, Via del Corso, Via del Boschetto & Via Urbana, Piazza Venezia, the Colosseum, Piazza di Spagna, and Piazza Mignanelli. Christmas is also a particularly charming time to view Rome's most famous tourist attractions and sites as they are especially beautiful when lit up for the holiday and it makes experiencing this incredible city that is on so may bucket lists even more magical and special.
2. The Gigantic Christmas Trees
Speaking of Christmas decorations, if you're a particular fan of gigantic Christmas trees that are magical and majestic in their scale and careful adornment, then Rome will delight you as there are several stunning examples. The most famous of these is the truly massive example in St Peter's Square. Usually around 26m tall, this behemoth makes a lot of sense considering the insanely huge church for which the square is named and which is behind it. Good to note is that the current Pope's concern for the state of the planet has led to the switch to environmentally-friendly lights, which is particularly important given just how many lights are needed to cover this giant!
3. The Elaborate Manger Scenes
Italy is famous for her tradition of presepi or nativity/manger scenes and for having the most beautiful, exquisitely made, and unique examples that you could ever imagine. Churches all over Rome each have their own stunning examples and various live nativity scenes featuring actors and real animals will also be set up in different parts of the city so you could easily do a tour of these lovely festive scenes, if you so wished. Of course, the Vatican's 100 Presepi is a particularly impressive showcase and a must-see for those interested in this wonderful Italian Christmas tradition and art form.
As noted, Rome is already quite the looker – you probably don't need to be told that, do you? However, the city becomes even more lovely when it is lit up with Christmas lights strung across the streets, when shop windows are adorned with festive displays, and all sorts of other decorations are erected all over Rome. Some of the best places to check out the beautiful arrangements of twinkling fairy lights, lanterns, and other glittering decorations include Via dei Condotti, Via del Governo Vecchio, Via Giulia, Via Merulana, Via del Corso, Via del Boschetto & Via Urbana, Piazza Venezia, the Colosseum, Piazza di Spagna, and Piazza Mignanelli. Christmas is also a particularly charming time to view Rome's most famous tourist attractions and sites as they are especially beautiful when lit up for the holiday and it makes experiencing this incredible city that is on so may bucket lists even more magical and special.
2. The Gigantic Christmas Trees
Speaking of Christmas decorations, if you're a particular fan of gigantic Christmas trees that are magical and majestic in their scale and careful adornment, then Rome will delight you as there are several stunning examples. The most famous of these is the truly massive example in St Peter's Square. Usually around 26m tall, this behemoth makes a lot of sense considering the insanely huge church for which the square is named and which is behind it. Good to note is that the current Pope's concern for the state of the planet has led to the switch to environmentally-friendly lights, which is particularly important given just how many lights are needed to cover this giant!
3. The Elaborate Manger Scenes
Italy is famous for her tradition of presepi or nativity/manger scenes and for having the most beautiful, exquisitely made, and unique examples that you could ever imagine. Churches all over Rome each have their own stunning examples and various live nativity scenes featuring actors and real animals will also be set up in different parts of the city so you could easily do a tour of these lovely festive scenes, if you so wished. Of course, the Vatican's 100 Presepi is a particularly impressive showcase and a must-see for those interested in this wonderful Italian Christmas tradition and art form.
4. Ice-Skating
Once again, almost everything about Rome is made all the lovelier and more magical and romantic by being swathed in Christmas lights, decorations, and activities but, by the same token, things that are Christmassy are even more special when taking place in the stunning surroundings of the Eternal City. It is, therefore, apparent that while lots of people enjoy the seasonal fun and potential for hand-holding and cutesy romance that is afforded by ice-skating in general, ice-skating while on holidays in Rome is just an impossibly picturesque experience. You will usually find that there are ice-rinks set up at Parco dell’Auditorium, Auditorium Parco della Musica, and Galleria Porta di Roma, among others. If you're looking to make particularly magical memories while exploring Rome this Christmas, be sure to plan a trip to an ice-rink.
5. Christmas Mass At The Centre Of Roman Catholicism
If you are a Christian and a particularly religious person and want to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and not just a tradition then Rome is a wonderful destination to choose during the Holidays as you will have no shortage of impossibly beautiful churches and chapels to visit, relics to view, saints to entreaty for help, and options for where to celebrate mass on the day itself. As there is truly an unbelievable amount of options of churches in Rome, we recommend researching in advance and finding out which churches are located close by your luxury rental in Rome, when they are holding their services, if they have connections to particular saints to whom you may have special devotions, and more.
So, if you are a serious Christmas-lover who is looking for somewhere special to spend the Holidays this year then browse our luxury villas in Rome and get planning the magical Christmas getaway of your dreams in Italy.
Once again, almost everything about Rome is made all the lovelier and more magical and romantic by being swathed in Christmas lights, decorations, and activities but, by the same token, things that are Christmassy are even more special when taking place in the stunning surroundings of the Eternal City. It is, therefore, apparent that while lots of people enjoy the seasonal fun and potential for hand-holding and cutesy romance that is afforded by ice-skating in general, ice-skating while on holidays in Rome is just an impossibly picturesque experience. You will usually find that there are ice-rinks set up at Parco dell’Auditorium, Auditorium Parco della Musica, and Galleria Porta di Roma, among others. If you're looking to make particularly magical memories while exploring Rome this Christmas, be sure to plan a trip to an ice-rink.
5. Christmas Mass At The Centre Of Roman Catholicism
If you are a Christian and a particularly religious person and want to celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday and not just a tradition then Rome is a wonderful destination to choose during the Holidays as you will have no shortage of impossibly beautiful churches and chapels to visit, relics to view, saints to entreaty for help, and options for where to celebrate mass on the day itself. As there is truly an unbelievable amount of options of churches in Rome, we recommend researching in advance and finding out which churches are located close by your luxury rental in Rome, when they are holding their services, if they have connections to particular saints to whom you may have special devotions, and more.
So, if you are a serious Christmas-lover who is looking for somewhere special to spend the Holidays this year then browse our luxury villas in Rome and get planning the magical Christmas getaway of your dreams in Italy.
Photo credits
picture 1: Victoria Reay / CC BY 2.0
picture 1: Victoria Reay / CC BY 2.0
