Florence’s Christmas Tree Lights Up

Wearing a Santa Claus hat, Florence mayor Dario Nardella presided over the tree-lighting ceremony in Florence’s Piazza del Duomo against the backdrop of the white, pink and green marble Gothic style Cathedral on the evening of December 8.  The tree, a 10m (33 ft.) fir from the forest of the Italian Dolomites, is decorated with hundreds of sparkling white lights and red cutout gigli (stylized irises, a city symbol).

The festivities were enlivened by a parade of Santas (La Compagnia di Babbo Natale), a group of Florence professionals who entertain needy children down via Calzaiuoli accompanied by an electric train.  Earlier, mayor Nardella presented Christmas tree in Palazzo Vecchio’s Cortile della Dognana to the public.

Additional Christmas trees will be placed in the courtyard of the Santa Maria Nuova hospital, piazza Puccini, piazza Dallapiccola, piazza del Carmine, piazza del Mercato Centrale as well as piazza delle Cure and piazza Acciaiuoli in Galluzzo.  To see a photo gallery, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.