Celebrating Christmas in Florence, 2025
Christmas Eve
The annual Orchestra della Toscana (ORT) concert on December 24 (5 pm) traditionally inaugurates Christmas festivities in Florence.
Click here for a complete listing of holiday church services in English
This year’s Christmas Eve performance at Teatro Verdi (via Ghibellina 99) will be led by Niccolò Jacopo Suppa, known for his expressive conducting, spotlighting the talent of soloist Ettore Pagano (cello). Only 22, Pagano has already been the recipient of several important industry distinctions, including the 2025 Abbiati Prize, Italy’s most prestigious award for classic music, and has been invited as a guest artist at international festivals.
The program comprises musical offerings by Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Mozart. The orchestra will interpret the overture of Rossini’s Signor Bruschino, which evokes the lively ambiance of 18th century Venice. This will be followed by Tchaikovsky’s Andante cantabile for cello soloist and orchestra. This work was originally the second movement of an earlier, more extensive composition, String Quartet n. 1, which the composer made a solo piece for cello and orchestra in 1888.
Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne, a dance score that Serge Diaghilev commissioned to Stravinsky, which he based on the music of the 18th century composer Pergolesi. The grand finale is Mozart’s Symphony n. 41, known as “Jupiter,” acclaimed as one of the greatest symphonies in classical music, one thats brings to life a feeling of energetic enthusiasm.
Tickets are on sale online at Ticketone.it or directly at Teatro Verdi box office.
Christmas Day
All Florence museums will be closed for the holiday, with the exception of Santa Maria Novella, which will be open from 1 to 5 pm (with access only until 3:45 pm) with free admission.
December 26, the Feast of Santo Stefano
Today is a legal holiday in Italy; museums, however, will be open with a holiday gift: the Basilica of Santa Croce is accessible with free entrance from 12:30 to 5:45 pm.
