HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
- December 8: L'Immacolata, celebrates the immaculate conception, and kickstarts the Christmas season: cue decorations and nativity scenes, including a life-size version at St Peter’s.
- December 24: There’s a (free) ticketed Midnight Mass on Christmas eve at St Peter’s Basilica. Midnight mass at Santa Maria Maggiore is less busy than St Peter’s, and a great event in a beautiful basilica.
- December 25: Pope Francis gives his Christmas blessing at noon from the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Piazza.
- December 8 – January 6: Visit the Christmas market in Piazza Navona with stalls selling sweets and presepe figures.
- New Year’s Eve: Celebrated with fireworks, usually centered on Circus Maximus, and visible from rooftops such as at Babuino 181.
- New Year’s Day: At noon is the ‘Tuffo nel Tevere’ - divers dive into the Tiber River.
- January 6: On Epiphany, the arrival of the Magi (three kings) is celebrated with a medieval parade along Via del Conciliazione carrying gifts for the Pope, who will say a 10am mass in St Peter’s.
- January 4: Rome’s Retail Sales begin and run till 15th February.
- February: Carnivale takes place before the start of Lent, usually in February, with costumed parades close to Rome Luxury Suites.
WINTER FOOD:
- White truffles are in season: taste the best at Rome Luxury Suites’ EMME restaurant.
- Campagna Amica farmers’ market, with foodstuffs and tastings, takes place close to Circus Maximus, from 10.30am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Delicious winter produce on the menu includes fennel, radicchio and cavolo nero.