What’s on in Rome this month?

Rome in December is like a beautiful lady putting on a nice dress for a special night. Christmas lights, the iconic Christmas trees in Piazza Venezia and in St Peter square, Christmas markets.. But also some incredible temporary exhibitions. This is what you should be on the lookout for if you’re in Rome this December.

Things to do in Rome in December 2023

Christmas market in Piazza Navona

As per tradition, the Christmas Market of Piazza Navona starts on December 1st until January 6th (Epifania day). The stands usually include a variety of nativity scenes decorations, Christmas tree balls and Christmas street food.

Despite the Christmas market of Piazza Navona is not as big and traditional as it used to be (lots of artisans have passed away and are not being replaced), it is still something nice to see during this time of the year.

>>We’ll share any update to this in The Piazza, our online community. Sign up to be up to date on December things to do in Rome 😊

100 Presepi in Vaticano (100 nativity scenes in the Vatican) exhibition

This year it will be the 6th edition of the 100 Presepi in Vaticano exhibition, therefore quite a new tradition.

But even so, this exhibit will steal your heart! First of all, the location. The 100 Presepi will take place in the colonnade of St Peter square designed by Bernini.

And then the content. There will be 100 nativity scenes of any kind. From the presepi made of cotton (which was my favorite last year!) to the chocolate presepi (wisely protected by a glass! But you could still smell the chocolate!). Here you really understand that creativity is the only limit!

The exhibit will be for free and it will take place from December 8th to January 7th.

More info: https://www.100presepi.it/

Christmas World in Villa Borghese

This year Christmas world lands in Villa Borghese! There will be 30000 squared meters with representations of Christmas in the world, through experiences, installations, shows and more.

It is an immersive experience where you can walk through the heart of Berlin, in the Christmas markets of London, then move to Paris, Tokyo, New York (where you can ice skate under the Brooklyn Bridge!). And of course also to the North Pole, where you’ll find Santa Claus village!

Christmas World will start on December 1st and will be running until January 7th, 2024.

Christmas Concert in the Vatican

There is another Christmas event in the Vatican this December 2023. Traditionally, every year on December 24th a Christmas concert is broadcasted from the Vatican on the Italian tv on Canale 5 (channel 5).

But actually this Christmas concert is usually recorded some days in advance, so if you want to attend the concert and still be able to be at home with your families on Christmas eve, you can do so. The concert this year will be recorded on December 16th.

This concert includes pop, rock, soul, gospel and opera singers that come together to celebrate Christmas through a series of classic Christmas songs. This concert is usually paired with charity initiatives.

This is where you can find the tickets: http://www.concertodinatale.it/

“Helmut Newton Legacy” exhibition

If you’ve never heard of this photographer, you better find out who he was right now, because you’re missing out on one of the biggest innovators in fashion photography. And some of the coolest pictures ever!

Helmut Newton changed the rules of the fashion photography by adding storytelling, naked portraits, optical illusions and crime scenes. And he experimented so while shooting for Vogue, Yves Saint Laurent, Bulgari, with David Bowie, Rolling Stones, Cindy Crawford, Monica Bellucci.

Such an important piece of history in photography that you will find below the Ara Pacis until March 2024.

More info and tickets: https://mostrahelmutnewton.it/en/

Are you looking to make your Rome trip special? Are you looking for something fun, unique, personal? Our in person experiences grew from the legacy of our media content online. We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Check our private and semi-private experiences here

Museum of Dreamers

Museum of dreamers is an immersive exhibition dedicated to the dreamlike world. It consists in 21 installations of great visual impact and it will run until January 28th at the PratiBus district.

For info and tickets: https://museumofdreamers.com/#pll_switcher

Escher exhibition in Palazzo Bonaparte

From October 31st 2023 until April 1st 2024, Palazzo Bonaparte hosts the biggest exhibition ever made on Escher, with more than 300 of his artworks! 🤩

Escher was a Dutch graphic designer who moved to Rome 100 years ago. He lived in Rome for about 12 years. And it’s in his Roman house in the Monteverde neighborhood that he made one of his most famous artworks, the Hand with Reflecting Sphere (see pic above)

The exhibition will take place in Palazzo Bonaparte, which used to be the residence of Napoleon’s mother in Rome.

Website: https://www.mostrepalazzobonaparte.it/mostra-escher.php

Fabulous Calvino exhibition

Who is Italo Calvino?

He is one of most famous Italian writers, and this year he would have turned 100 years old. He has been one of the most translated Italian artists of his time.

Calvino was a journalist, he wrote novels and short-stories, many of them being whimsical and imaginative fables. The baron that decided to live on a tree, the viscount that is cut in two halves by a cannon ball and becomes half good and half bad, and other fairytales.

“Fairytales are real” he said, “they are, all together, an explanation of life which was born in ancient times“.

This year Calvino would have turned 100 years old. For this occasion a fabulous exhibition was inaugurated at the Scuderie del Quirinale. You can learn about Calvino and his works and get lost in the whimsical journeys across reality and fantasy.

And maybe start reading one of his books. We recommend trying the Ancestor’s Trilogy (Baron of the Trees, Nonexistent Knight and the Clover Viscount)

You can visit this exhibition until February 2nd, 2024. More info and tickets: https://scuderiequirinale.it/en/exhibition/favoloso-calvino/

Live a unique experience with us!

If you want to make your December Rome trip special and looking for something fun, unique, personal… you’re in the right place!

Our in person experiences grew from the legacy of our media content online, meaning that we focus on discovering the authentic side of Rome. We won’t dwell on academic frills, only on insider’s knowledge with the fun storytelling of a local expert. Our experiences include the hidden gems of Rome, underground sites and a super local street food tour. You can find them all here!