Tomorrow we head to Paris then on to London for Christmas. I am told by Italian friends that the Christmas lights in Paris are fantastic. I am excited to see them as Roma just is not as sparkly this year as it has been.
The tree in Piazza Venezia is grand, and the one in Piazza San Pietro certainly is grand, although we have not been able to get over there at night yet. (We have until January 6 to do so.) Many of the lights in Roma are sweet, subdued, befitting Roma’s usual level of lighting, soft and amber.
I am disappointed that Via del Corso is lacking lights this year. For the past four holiday seasons, lights have been strung from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia. This year — at least as of last Thursday — nothing! I guess that goes along with the scaled-down mercatino in Piazza Navona. We haven’t made it down there since it opened late last week, but it is supposed to be more about games for kids and Christmas decorations and artisanal items, instead of the junky atmosphere of years gone by. That sounds nice because it has been pretty cheesy in the past, though the children loved it. I hope to get down there at New Years.
So before we skip town, here are a few holiday scenes from Roma. At the bottom of this post, you’ll see four years of lights in Via Del Corso, from 2011-2014. Sad the tradition has not continued.
Auguri everyone! I’ll write from Paris in a few days.
Love the tree juxtaposed against the Colosseo.
More lights in the historical center. Nothing too garish.
Looks like they used the 2012 lights from Via del Corso on this street a couple of blocks away.
Sparkling ball, one of a series hung above one small street.
Giant Menorah in Piazza Barberini.
Umbrellas floating over a street near the French Embassy.
A side street in the historical center.
Tree in Piazza Venezia, nearing completion.
Piazza San Pietro. The tree is large, but dwarfed by the basilica, as is everything in Roma.
Tree in Piazza San Pietro.
Close up of the creche in Piazza San Pietro.
The entire creche at San Pietro is huge.
Pilgrims arriving to go through the Jubilee Door at San Pietro. The Jubilee started along with the Christmas season on Dec, 8.
Tree and nativity in the lobby of our building. Traditionally the portiere puts up a tree.
Nativity scene in the lobby of our apartment building.
Via del Corso 2011, 150th anniversary of the Italian State.
Via del Corso 2012
Via del Corso 2013
Via del Corso 2014
Girovaga 
I left Rome on the 30th of November so had to miss much of the Christmas cheer, thanks for the photos. I do feel fortunate though to have seen a display in a church of parisioner made presepe for sale as a fundraiser on my last night in Rome, i have a lovely black turbaned Magi on the top of my Christmas tree here in NZ from this event,…and I did see the poor tree in Saint Peters square get put in place by a crane, it looked very unhappy but better in your pictures with its festive decorations on.
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Ciao Andrea! Maybe one year you will be back for Christmas. I highly recommend it!
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I really liked the 2013, 2012, 2011 photos. The lights then were wonderful. Two years ago we went to Paris for the 2 weeks before Christmas. Well, Paris and Normandy plus Fountain Bleu. We stayed right by the Eiffel Tower. Oh my heavens. The lights were UNBELIEVABLE! I was in awe. I would go back another year during this time as walking the city streets and the Christmas markets were fantastic.
I just sent you an email address as well. We are skiing at Tahoe all of this week and the snow has been AWESOME!
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Now I am even more excited about our Paris stop! We probably are passing through too quickly. Happy to hear you have good snow!
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When I lived in Rome, a thousand years ago, I remember one store had a tree in its window and that was it. All of us Americans and Brits celebrated with each other with a Christmas feast as close to what we knew as was possible. There were no pumpkin pies or cranberries. A couple of years ago, we went to Strasbourg for their Christmas Market and one of their streets was hung with Bacarat chandeliers. It was incredible. When you go to Paris, be sure to see the decorations in the windows of Galerie Lafayette and Printemps. They are worth a visit. Be happy you aren’t in Oregon this year. All of our family there is either under water or snow. Have a festive and glorious Christmas.
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Hi Chloe! I am amazed Roma was so somber “back then” in terms of lighting. These days it is certainly more up tempo. There are concerts, expat parties, and so on. MANY restaurants are open too. London will be interesting because they shut down all public transportation on the 25th and 26th! Should be very peaceful and we will walk off everything we consume (I hope!).
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Forgot to say: I have seen how terrible the rain situation is! The exact opposite of last December, as I recall. Sounds like 1995 all over again. At least they have snow in the mountains. Happy Christmas to you as well, Chloe.
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Thank you for this post. I enjoyed all the pictures. You, like me, may wonder what is in people’s minds this year to make changes. In my neighborhood, more people added a lightness and whimsy to their usual displays – looking for something to make happiness?? Have a very Merry Christmas in Paris and London. I’m sure you will. Love ya, Carolyn
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I agree about the early start in Stati Uniti! The local pop station in Portland started Christmas music Nov 1! I’ve liked Rome’s subtlety too, but for Via del Corso to go naked!!!
We need to get that galss of wine you owe me after the holidays. Have fun in Paris!
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Great photos. Frankly, I like Rome’s lighter approach to Christmas although Via del Corso looks like something from my old local mall in Denver. I tired of hearing Christmas carols in the U.S. before the first turkey got whacked. I’m doing my own take on Rome’s Christmas packaging at a later date at Dog-Eared Passport (www.johnhendersontravel.com).
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