Rome at Christmastime

Image above: Crowds in St. Peter's Square in January 2014. All photographs on this page are by the author, sockii, unless provided by Amazon.

Of course, Christmas is an extremely important holiday in the Roman Catholic faith - and yes, you are at the center of that faith in Rome itself! If you are going to be in Rome for Christmas, you may want to try to attend Midnight Mass at St. Peters Basilica, but do realize that you will need a ticket. Tickets are free but in extremely high demand, so you will have to submit a request months in advance. You can find more information at Vatican.com (not an official Vatican website.)

But even if you can't make it to midnight mass, you can still attend services at one of the other magnificent Catholic churches in the city. Be sure not to miss the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which is actually the "mother church" of Roman Catholicism. St. John Lateran is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome (that is, the Pope), therefore it actually ranks higher in importance than St. Peter's. The church is absolutely stunning and mass is held there regularly throughout the day (see schedule). Near St. John's you can also visit the moving Scala Sancta or "Holy Steps", which pilgrims climb on their knees in prayer and remembrance of the Passion of Christ.

Nativity scenes are a popular Christmas tradition throughout Italy, and Rome is no exception. Step inside any Catholic church in Rome and you will find a nativity on display during the season. Some are simple manger scenes featuring the Holy Family and a few landscape elements, however many are quite large and elaborate featuring entire small villages filled with hundreds of figures, lights and even running water!

In 1982, Pope John Paul II started the tradition of placing a nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square. This large, traditional nativity draws many visitors every year, but is only one of so many on public display in the season! Wander the city and delight in the diversity of these nativities, or maybe shop for figurines and sets for your own home.

Piazza Navona is a must-visit during the holiday season, as every year it is transformed into a bustling marketplace. Between Christmas and the Epiphany, you will find the piazza packed with vendors selling candy, sugar charcoal, toys, pork sandwiches and paninis, hot drinks, roasted chestnuts and other seasonal treats.

Roman tradition states that La Befana - the good witch of Christmas who brings treats to the children - will appear at midnight on January 6, at a window along the piazza. So many will come to the piazza at that time to look for her on their way to and from Epiphany feasts.

Like so many other major cities around the world, Rome offers plenty of special Christmas-themed concerts, plays and performances during the season. Simply walking around the city you will see billboards advertising these events, such as classical music performances in churches, or even music festivals in the Circus Maximus. You can use the links below to find out more of what may be happening during the time of your visit to Rome:

• TimeOut Rome: search for performances, concerts, and other special events taking place in Rome any time of the year.
• Rome Concerts: a searchable classical music calendar
• December in Rome: a listing of special holidays celebrated in December
• January in Rome: a listing of special holidays celebrated in January

If you love to shop for high fashion, jewelry, leather and other designer label goods, Rome is a top destination year-round. However during the Christmas season this is particularly the case as many stores may be running special sales (especially afterChristmas) that make it a perfect place for bargain hunting...or blowing your budget!

If you love to shop - as well as to simply get lost in swarms of people - take a slow walk up Via del Corso in Rome during the holiday season. Normally crowded with pedestrians, especially during the evening passeggiata, the street becomes an absolute swarm of humanity at this time of year. The crowds are thick the entire length of the road from Piazza Venezia all the way to Piazza del Popolo, spreading out especially near the Spanish Steps to encompass all the smaller shopping-oriented streets in that area. It can be a fun if dizzying experience, but if it gets too much for you, just slip into a small bar or cafe for a hot chocolate or a glass of wine to relax and rest your feet.

Winters in Rome are pleasantly cool but mild - at least for those of us visiting from regions like the Northeast of the United States! According toWeatherbase, the average temperature range for Rome in December is 41-57°F and in January 38-55°F. So you'll need a medium-weight winter jacket but don't expect snow in Rome except under extremely rare conditions. (That said, if it does start to snow, rush to the Pantheon! The sight of snow falling through the Dome's occulus is supposedly one not to miss.)

You should however be prepared for occasional light or heavy rainstorms, so pack your umbrellas and other wet weather gear.