If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Christmas in Venice is very different from any other country or city in the world. You will not see massive amounts of decoration pieces in windows on houses, instead you will see magnificent sites that normally you won’t see at home.

Brightly painted gondolas will be crossing the canals and carrying Santas lit up with many magical lights. Christmas trees tend to be small and skinny.

That’s due to the fact that trees are usually carried in small boats (not cars) and then brought home for several floors with no elevators. Disposing of trees is a highly specialized trade, almost a science.

One of the best ways to spend Christmas Eve in Venice is to attend the midnight mass at St. Mark’s Basilica. The midnight mass starts at 10:30 p.m. and you should get there early to get a seat (no tickets needed).

North entrance is usually a better choice as west entrance is often used by tourists and crowded. The square is fully lit with lights and the cool brisk air adds magic to the atmosphere, the canal water is splashing away in the background.

In Piazza San Marco, the famous caf? “Caff? Florian” is open on Christmas Day. A good place for Christmas breakfast and coffee in the morning! Each year on December 26th, the Frari Church in San Polo (in Campo dei Frari) offers a free concert at 4:00 p.m.

The church is filled with some masterpieces like Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin and Canova’s Tomb and a carved monk’s chair from 1468. We suggest you to get there early and dress warmly. Christmas services are different from church to church.

In the days right before Christmas many markets are spread all over the Rialto Bridge area. Antiques, foods and spices from all over Italy and special souvenirs of Venice to buy as presents and bring home to your loved ones.

Strolling through these markets is amazing during Christmas, there is something magic about it. Parents are carrying children on their shoulders or in their arms pointing and smiling towards many amazing things Venice puts forward during this holiday.

Plan ahead your Christmas Dinner and make a reservations since most restaurants will be crowded and bookd and on December 26th most of them might be closed.

During this time the weather varies as there are lots of cloudy days with mild temperatures or brilliant blue skies. The air is crystal clear and brisk. On these days, Venice is so perfectly reflected in the water that it is easy to mistake one world from the other.

Now you are ready to live one of the most exciting Christmas you can think of…in the magic framework of Venice!!