Celebrating Christmas 2023 in the Eternal City.

The Christmas season in Rome is a particularly festive experience thanks to street lights, rich traditions and Nativity scenes in churches around the Italian capital.Rome's Christmas tree moves to Piazza del Popolo this year, away from its traditional base at Piazza Venezia where major works are underway for the new Metro C subway station.The lights on the Christmas tree will be illuminated on the evening of Friday 8 December, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a national public holiday in Italy.There will be Christmas lights along the length of the central Via del Corso as well as on Via dei Condotti, the exclusive shopping street near Piazza di Spagna.

There is also a giant Christmas tree in St Peter's Square, with the Vatican evoking the first living Nativity scene of St Francis on the 800th anniversary of its creation in Greccio in 1223.

In addition to the Holy Family, the manger will feature life-sized terracotta statues depicting St Francis and some of the people who helped him recreate the first live Nativity scene.

The Vatican's Christmas tree and Nativity scene will be lit up on Saturday 9 December.

There are Christmas mangers and Nativity scenes in churches throughout the capital including the international crib exhibition, 100 Presepi, under the colonnade in St Peter's Square.

Rome has plenty of Christmas markets over the festive period, including in Piazza Navona, and Christmas World in Villa Borghese, with carousels, ice-skating rinks and plenty of fun for kids.There are numerous Christmas church services in English while for the programme of Pope Francis, including his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day, consult the Vatican website.Some of the main cultural events in Rome this Christmas include the Escher exhibition at Palazzo Bonaparte, the musical Matilda at Teatro Sistina, the Roma Gospel Festival at the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the Trame di Luce festival of lights at the Botanic Garden in Trastevere.The capital's public transport services follow a reduced timetable on Christmas Day, while those planning to dine in Rome restaurants over the festive period are advised to book well in advance due to high demand.