Florence Lights Up for the Holidays

That Christmas is coming is evident throughout the city.  Video mapping technology alternating shapes, volumes, colors, and surfaces through light will be projected on the Ponte Vecchio and the facades of the church of San Paolino, Palazzo Vecchio from December 7 to January 6, and holiday lights will decorate Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the Chamber of Commerce, Palazzo Medici Riccardi and the streets of Florence.

Christmas Trees

The lighting of the city’s giant Christmas trees (between 35 and 42 ft. high) will take place at five different locations on Sunday, December 8. Tree lighting at Corte di Michelozzo and Palazzo Vecchio begins at 5:30 pm. Lighting at Piazza del Duomo is set to start at 6 pm, in Piazza della Repubblica at 6:30 pm and Piazzale Michelangelo at 7:30 pm.

Cassetta di Babbo Natale at Palazzo Vecchio

There will be a Santa Claus House located in Palazzo Vecchio starting December 7. This space gives children the opportunity for children to write letters and mail letters to Santa Claus with their Christmas wishes. And if you happen to stop by on the weekends, Santa Claus will be there to say hello to visitors! The initiative will continue until December 24.

Carriage Ride for Kids

Calling all children ages 3-10! Passeggiando in Carrozza is back on the weekends during the Christmas season. Children ages 3 – 10 accompanied by an adult will have the chance to take a carriage ride across the Florence city center towards Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, or Palazzo Vecchio, click here to make a reservation. At the Cascine, children can board a mini train starting at Viale Abramo Lincoln, which will take them on a 50 minute ride through the greenery of the park, ending in a meet and greet with Santa Claus.  The activity is free and is offered on December 14, 21, 23, 28 and 29 in addition to January 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 from 3 to 6 pm, and on December 16 and 23 from 10 am to 1 pm.  (Tessa Scharff)