What to see and do in Florence over the 2023 Christmas season.

Christmas is a magical time of year in Florence and it makes a perfect day trip from Rome. Here is a quick guide to the festive period in the Tuscan capital.

The 2023 holiday season began in Florence officially on 7 December when the lights on the city's Christmas tree were switched on in the heart of the historic centre.

The tree, as well as a Nativity scene with life-size terracotta statutes, can be found in front of the Cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore against the stunning backdrop of Piazza del Dumo.

Florence museums

The Uffizi Galleries (Uffizi, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens) will be closed on Christmas Day but open on 26 December.

The Galleria dell'Accademia will be open until 18.00 on 24 December, Christmas Eve, with last admission at 17.30.

Christmas lights in Florence

The streets in the centre of Florence are festooned with beautiful, creative street lights, from Via de' Tornabuoni to Via Gioberti and Piazza della Repubblica.

Green Line Firenze
Under the theme of The Winter Garden, the city's Green Line festival illuminates monuments and landmarks such as Ponte Vecchio with spectacular lights shows, projections and video-mapping every night until 7 January 2024.

Religious services

St Mark’s English Church celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at 23.30 and Christmas Day Mass at 10.30 on 25 December.

At the Cathedral of Florence (Duomo), there is the traditional Midnight Mass celebrated in Italian by the Cardinal Archbishop (at midnight on Christmas Eve), with Christmas Day Mass at 10.30.

Getting to Florence from Rome
There are regular train services between Rome and Florence, for information see Trenitalia website.

Cover photo credit: Dan74 / Shutterstock.com.