When December wraps Rome in its gray-blue sky and the first morning mists appear, the city transforms. The cold, just sharp enough, invites you to slip into a coat and clasp your hands together, but it is precisely then that the streets light up, fill with sweet scents and laughing voices: Rome dresses up for the holidays, and the magic of Christmas invades every alley, every square.
Walking through the historic center in the days leading up to December 25 means immersing yourself in a warm and lively atmosphere, even within the gentle quiet of the Roman winter. The beating heart of this transformation is undoubtedly Piazza Navona: from early December 2025 until Epiphany (the first week of January), it comes alive thanks to the city’s most famous Christmas market. Decorated wooden stalls, warm lights, handmade decorations, toys, books, artisanal gifts, and sweets: among roasted chestnuts, hot chocolate, and the scent of panettone, every step feels like a dive into the festivities. Surrounded by fountains and centuries-old palaces, the square becomes a living stage—perfect for those who want to practice their Italian in a fun way. All it takes is asking, “How much does this Christmas ornament cost?” or “May I try a roasted chestnut, please?” It is a place where words like gift, decoration, toy, and hot chocolate come alive with flavor and meaning.
And that’s not all. For those looking for a broader experience, the Christmas World 2025 park, inside Villa Borghese, transforms Rome’s greenery into a true Christmas village: light installations, markets, food stands, shows, and for the more adventurous, an ice-skating rink under (virtually) the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking among the rides, colorful lights, background music, and tasting themed “food experiences” all contribute to a global, playful Christmas—perfect for families, friends, or anyone wanting to experience the city in a different way than usual.
Living and learning Italian in Rome: the guide for international students
And then there are the nativity scenes. In Rome, the tradition of celebrating Christmas with birth scenes, sacred figures, and evocative settings is deeply rooted. Every year, the event “100 Nativity Scenes” at the Vatican gently illuminates Bernini’s colonnade in St. Peter’s Square, offering hundreds of nativity scenes from all over the world in a free, quiet exhibition that moves and inspires reflection. From 2025, the exhibition takes place from December 8 to January 6. Entering that square, perhaps at dusk, with soft lights and candles, means touching an ancient Italy—made of spirituality, tradition, and shared wonder. And everywhere, in churches and neighborhoods, small nativity scenes can be found, hidden in less touristy corners: an invitation to explore, to ask questions, to discover new words and stories of an artisanal, simple, authentic Christmas.
When evening arrives, the holiday lights illuminate Rome’s historic center and its most evocative streets: not only the famous Via del Corso, but also the discreet charm of streets like Via di Ripetta, Via del Babuino, and Via dei Banchi Vecchi turns into a true path of light. Walking along Via del Corso from Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, the heart of Roman shopping, you find yourself immersed in a sparkling river of lights, suspended luminous drapes, golden arches, and reflections dancing on palace façades. Walking through these streets, breathing in the crisp air of the Roman winter, hearing the sound of footsteps and muffled voices… it is a slow, magical experience that transforms the city into a luminous embrace: ideal for a romantic walk, taking souvenir photos, or simply sharing a special moment with friends among lights, shadows, and ancient Roman elegance.
And if there is one ritual that brings everyone together—Romans, tourists, and students alike—it is that of Christmas trees. Every year the city lights up: the sparkling tree in Piazza Venezia, imposing and photographed from every angle; the one in St. Peter’s Square, symbolic and solemn; and the one in Piazza di Spagna, framed by stairways and illuminated shop windows. A simple walk among these places becomes a journey into the heart of the holidays, amid lights, music, and laughter in many different languages.
And more still: in Rome, Christmas is heard even before it is seen. Between December and early January, the city fills with music. At the Auditorium Parco della Musica, the air smells of winter and notes: concerts, gospel choirs, family shows… every evening feels like an invitation to sit down, let yourself be wrapped in light, and be carried away. But the magic does not live only in theaters. The great basilicas also become silent and majestic stages. Entering to listen to a concert in the dim light of San Giovanni in Laterano, or in one of the other historic churches that open their doors to music, is an experience that stays with you: voices rise toward the vaults, instruments resonate among the columns, and suddenly you feel that Christmas is there—close, alive, tangible. It is a moment of simple beauty, without haste: all you have to do is sit, breathe, and listen.
Finally, if you want to have fun and glide on an ice rink, Rome offers several options in 2025: in addition to the rink at Christmas World, there are temporary rinks scattered throughout neighborhoods such as Testaccio or Re di Roma, where the city takes a break and becomes a place of play, laughter, and friendship thanks to ice, cheer, and companionship. When the cool December wind flows along ancient façades and the air mixes with the scents of sweets, roasted chestnuts, and the river, Rome changes its face. It is no longer just a city to visit: it becomes a place to live, slowly, guided by curiosity. Walking among markets, holiday lights, and nativity scenes, you realize that every corner tells a story: a memory, a tradition, a new word to learn. For those who come from afar, for those studying Italian, for those who truly want to know the soul of the country, Christmas in Rome is a precious opportunity: an invitation to observe, listen, taste, and speak.
And in the end, when you return home with cold hands and a full heart, you realize that Christmas in Rome is not just a time of year. It is an experience that stays with you. A fragment of light that continues to accompany you, even when the decorations are taken down and the city returns to its everyday rhythm.
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Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Rome
The Eternal City has known it all. Victory and defeat, joy and tragedy, glory and humility marked Rome’s history, culture and architecture. A magical place with vibrant, timeless lifestyle with countless secrets waiting to be discovered.
The Scuola Leonardo da Vinci is situated in the centre of Rome, in the pedestrian area, halfway from the astounding Piazza Navona, Castel S. Angelo and St. Peter Basilica. It is one of the largest schools in Rome.
We, from Leonardo da Vinci School have one mission – to introduce you to this exciting urban symphony. Every year thousand of students from more than 90 countries jump into this adventure hand in hand with us. Leonardo da Vinci School is not only leading language institute, but centre of Italian culture and lifestyle. We match our vast experience with our student’ eagerness to know and learn and together we make it happen.
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