10 Things to Do in Florence in December

The cold of December does not manage to eclipse the many attractions of Florence. The effect, in fact, is the opposite, as during this month the city is decked out for Christmas preparations.

As is to be expected in a city as lively as Florence, December is full of activities and events for Florentines and visitors alike to enjoy during these days.

Although you are sure to visit the Santa Croce either on your own or with an organised tour, it is well worth taking the time to visit the most popular Christmas market in Florence which is located in Piazza Santa Croce.

This Florentine market is modelled on the German Christmas markets. The entire square, decorated for the occasion, is filled with small wooden huts offering decorative products, handicrafts and, of course, different typical dishes from the Italian regions, as well as German dishes such as gingerbread and strudel.

If you have come to Florence with children, this square offers them a splendid carousel where they will have a great time.

Practical information

• Where: in Piazza Santa Croce.
• When: the first three weeks of December.
• Hours: from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm.

Strolling through the streets of Florence in December means doing so under the special lighting and decorations of the season, as well as in the shop windows. I suggest that you take a little tour amidst the smell of roasting chestnuts and the magical atmosphere that envelops the city at this time of year:

• A good place to start could be Piazza San Lorenzo, one of the most beautiful squares in Florence and home to an interesting market.
• From there you can walk to Piazza del Duomo, where (besides the cathedral of Santa Maria dei Fiori) you will see the big Christmas tree that is traditionally lit on December 8th.
• Walk down Via Calzaiuoli to the fantastic Piazza della Signoria.
• Continue in the direction of Ponte Vecchio, but not before admiring the façade of the Uffizi Gallery.
• A good place to finish is the Palazzo Pitti, although if you feel like it, it's not a bad idea to go up to the Piazzale Michelangelo to enjoy the views of the city from its viewpoint.

This little pre-Christmas itinerary can be done using a tourist bus, which you can hop on and off whenever and wherever you want to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the streets.

As in all Catholic countries, the Immaculate Conception Day is celebrated in Florence on the 8th of December. The tradition among Florentines is to start preparing for the approaching Christmas. However, if you are in the city you will be able to enjoy the Fierucola dell'Immacolata.

For two days, on 8 and 9 December, the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata (near the Leonardo Da Vinci museum, about which I leave you information about the entrance fees) is filled with food and craft stalls where Florentines take the opportunity to buy some of their Christmas gifts.

On the same day, 8 December, you can also attend another important event in the city: the lighting of a large Christmas tree in the beautiful Piazza del Duomo. The ceremony is attended by all the authorities of Florence and there are usually some events such as concerts and animations.

If you go on a gastronomic tour of Florence at this time of the year, you will notice that some dishes change with the arrival of the cold weather and the approach of winter. In addition to this, there is the appearance of Christmas recipes. A good way to try more things is to go to the markets in the historic centre where they serve food and discover new flavours:

• Appetizers are a must at any meal at this time of year, always accompanied by a good glass of prosecco.
• Crostini Toscani (chicken liver pate on Tuscan bread) is one of the classics.
• Another typical dish is the handmade tortellini.
• Of course, roasted chestnuts are a must.
• Last but not least, the cold weather in December brings thick hot chocolate.

On 21 December, Florence celebrates a small festival to remember one of its most influential but, at the same time, most unknown figures outside the city. My advice is to join some of the historical-religious itineraries that take place in various neighbourhoods of the old town centre on the occasion of this celebration.

The main centre of the celebration is the Badia Florentina, where the tomb of Marquis Uno of Tucsia is located, the first lord of Tuscany who decided to move the court to Florence. Several events take place there to remember him, although the commemoration extends to the rest of the city's historic districts.

In addition to the aforementioned itineraries that follow in his footsteps, you can also see an interesting parade of the Florentine Republic, in which the participants wear costumes that will take you back to the Middle Ages, a time when Florence had a state of its own.

One of the problems when visiting Florence in December is the cold weather and the possibility of rain (or even snow). Luckily, there is no shortage of indoor places to visit in the city, and they are much less crowded than in the high season. So you should not miss out on a visit to the best Florentine museums.

• Uffizi Gallery: No visit to Florence is complete without seeing the best paintings in the Uffizi Gallery. Although December is not as busy as other months, it is always a good idea to buy a ticket in advance and, if you are interested in art, book a guided tour in English.
• Galleria dell'Accademia: another essential museum if you are in the city. Among the great works it houses is Michelangelo 's famous David. As in the previous case, the smaller number of visitors should not make you overconfident, so I advise you to buy your ticket to the Gallery in good time and without queues.
• Palazzo Vecchio: you should not miss a visit to the Palazzo Vecchio, where you will be able to admire several rooms full of works of art in a unique setting. The museum is located in the beautiful Piazza della Signoria.
• Museo Nazionale del Bargello: although less known than the previous ones, booking tickets to visit this museum located in a palace in the historic centre should be part of your itinerary when visiting Florence. Its collection of Renaissance works is impressive, especially **Donatello'**s David.

On the 8th of December a festival usually starts in Florence that completely changes the image of the city: the Firenze Light Festival. During the festival, several of the city's most representative squares and corners are creatively illuminated.

These lights are joined by other initiatives such as installations and artistic projections, including the videomapping of the Ponte Vecchio.

Other places that are part of this festival of light are the Museo Galileo, the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Museo Novecento, the Basilica of San Miniato al Monte and all the towers and gates surrounding the historic centre.

If you are staying in areas further away from the centre, you may also find places illuminated during the festival, as it reaches places such as Piazza delle Cure, San Donato Park, Piazza dell'Isolotto and many other corners.

Torchlight walk in the Museums

As part of this festival there is an activity called Torchlight Walk in the Museums. It is open to both children and adults and takes place in the following centres belonging to the Florentine Civic Museums (dates and times are approximate):

• Santa Maria Novella: from 17 December and 7 January, at 19:00 for families with children aged 8-12 and at 20:30 for young people and adults.
• Palazzo Vecchio: from 18 December to 8 January. The timetable is the same as above.
• Bardini Museum: starts on 9 December and ends on 9 January, with the same timetable as above.

Although going up to this viewpoint, one of the best in Florence, is recommended at any time of the year, in December the views are even more spectacular if you arrive when the sun has set. From Piazzale Michelangelo you will be able to enjoy the view of the whole city illuminated by the special lights typical of this time of year.

The square also has a bronze replica of Michelangelo's David, as well as a café where you can sit for a while and enjoy the views. If you want to stay longer, there is no problem either, as you can go into the square's restaurant or buy food at some of the kiosks there.

How to get there

Those who want to walk to the square can do so from the south bank of the river Arno, where there are several well-marked paths. For those who prefer to go more comfortably, however, just use the city bus lines 12 or 13 or the City Sightseeing bus.

The intense cultural life that characterises Florence in winter includes classical ballet performances. Among them, there is none better to go to in December than The Nutcracker, which is performed on 23 December every year at the Teatro Pergola, one of the most beautiful in Italy.

This performance is given by the famous Moscow Ballet. The Nutcracker, one of Tchaikovsky 's greatest works, tells the story of a toy (the Nutcracker of the title) given to a little girl on Christmas Eve. When she falls asleep she has a dream in which some mice try to steal her new toy, but she defends herself by throwing a shoe at the Mouse King.

Even if you've come to Florence to enjoy its culture by visiting, for example, the best works of the Galleria dell'Accademia, that shouldn't stop you from doing some fun things. In December you have the opportunity to ice skate in several areas of the city.

One of the most popular rinks is the one in the Parterre, in Piazza della Libertà:

• It costs about €6 per skating session (about €4 if you bring your skates).
• You can rent equipment there with no problem.
• It's open all December and the first days of January.

Another of the city's traditional places for various winter sports, including skating, is the Florence Winter Park, located in Tuscany Hall (Lungarno Aldo Moro, east of Florence).

• Here you can also try your hand at skiing and go snow tubing.
• The price varies according to the activity.
• It is open from Thursday to Sunday, with different opening hours depending on the day.

Finally, near the Fortezza da Basso is the Florence Ice Village, the largest ice rink in Europe at 300 metres.

• Here you can visit Santa Claus' house and several food stalls.
• The first hour costs about 8 euros, while the second hour is only about 5 euros.
• The skate rental fee is about €2.
• Open until February, from 10:00 to 24:00.

December is one of the coldest months of the year in Florence. The average maximum temperature during this month is only 11°C, while the average minimum temperature is 3°C.

In the face of these low temperatures, all you need to do is pack a scarf, hat, gloves, a good coat and, if you are very cold, some thermal underwear. In any case, I advise you to check the weather forecast before you set off.

When planning your itineraries, it is also worth bearing in mind that the sun sets shortly after 16:30, which will affect visits that do not involve entering a building.