Twinkly lights bouncing off historic walls, children screaming in delight at the sight of Santa or Befana (the kindly witch who delivers Christmas gifts in Italy), the smell of mulled wine and freshly made food wafting from a market, warming cold hands on hot drinks after ice-skating, tables laden with local delights, live cribs filled with cute animals...all of this and much more, besides, can be found all throughout Tuscany each Christmas.
However, you will also find that every city and town has its own unique traditions and areas of expertise and offer a slightly different experience.
Whether you're all about the food, the sweets, family fun, traditional markets or some other specific facet of festive fun, there is a different town that will best cater to your whims.
However, you will also find that every city and town has its own unique traditions and areas of expertise and offer a slightly different experience.
Whether you're all about the food, the sweets, family fun, traditional markets or some other specific facet of festive fun, there is a different town that will best cater to your whims.
We've been rounding up different Tuscan cities in a list, each with their selling points explained, to help you find the perfect Christmas destination in Tuscany for you. Here are more of our picks…
Prato
Prato is the perfect choice for beer lovers, for example. From December the 14th to the 17th, the city is home to the Festival Internazionale della Birra (International Beer Festival). This large exhibition of handcrafted beers boasts an a fantastic selection of artisan beers from all over the world, as well as live music and a charming Christmas market and makes for a truly “festive” mood!
Just find a vacation rental in Prato and get stick into those beers!
Prato
Prato is the perfect choice for beer lovers, for example. From December the 14th to the 17th, the city is home to the Festival Internazionale della Birra (International Beer Festival). This large exhibition of handcrafted beers boasts an a fantastic selection of artisan beers from all over the world, as well as live music and a charming Christmas market and makes for a truly “festive” mood!
Just find a vacation rental in Prato and get stick into those beers!
Pienza
For something a little more unique and unusual there is the perfect city of Pienza and its traditional “Gioco del Panforte”.
Panforte, of course, is a famous Italian Christmas cake and this game is a folkloristic competition that takes place each year, at the end of December. A competition in which participants have to throw an entire panforte, wrapped in paper, over a long table and try to get it as close to the opposite edge as possible, it is a fun and silly tradition that is popular amongst locals and tourists alike. Find a luxury villa in Pienza and try your hand at it for a memorable Christmas experience in Tuscany!
There are plenty of other great destinations around Tuscany and lots more to see and do, so be sure to check out the previous posts in this series!
For something a little more unique and unusual there is the perfect city of Pienza and its traditional “Gioco del Panforte”.
Panforte, of course, is a famous Italian Christmas cake and this game is a folkloristic competition that takes place each year, at the end of December. A competition in which participants have to throw an entire panforte, wrapped in paper, over a long table and try to get it as close to the opposite edge as possible, it is a fun and silly tradition that is popular amongst locals and tourists alike. Find a luxury villa in Pienza and try your hand at it for a memorable Christmas experience in Tuscany!
There are plenty of other great destinations around Tuscany and lots more to see and do, so be sure to check out the previous posts in this series!