Pistoia lights up with magic for an unforgettable Christmas! From December 1, 2024, to January 6, 2025, the historic center will host:

🎁 Christmas Markets: crafts, local products, and plenty of gift ideas.

⛸️ Ice Skating Rink: fun for all ages in Piazza San Francesco.

🌟 Spectacular Lights: a dazzling light trail illuminating the city's streets.

🎶 Music and Performances: concerts, choirs, and must-see theater events.

🎅 Santa's Village: games and workshops for the little ones!

Complete program:

☞ https://pistoiacittadelnatale.com/

The "Gran Cammino di Natale" (Great Christmas Walk) is the Christmas event that will take place in Montecatini Terme from November 17, 2024, to January 7, 2025. This ideal path will guide visitors through various areas of the city, offering activities and attractions for both adults and children.

Full program available on the pictures.

Lucca Magical Christmas 2024: A Unique Experience of Tradition, Innovation, and Holiday Magic

The third edition of Lucca Magical Christmas is set to enchant citizens and visitors with an even richer and more captivating program than previous years.  

From November 23, 2024, to January 6, 2025, Lucca will transform into a festive wonderland, blending Christmas traditions with the beauty of its historic city center to create an unforgettable magical atmosphere.

Christmas Markets: A Journey Through Flavors and Traditions

One of this year’s main highlights is the debut of the Christmas Market with wooden chalets in Piazza Napoleone, a true Christmas village featuring local products, handicrafts, and sweets, running from November 23 to January 6.

Other markets will enrich the festive calendar:

- Palazzo Sani, Via Fillungo 121: The “Meraki Market” on December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, and 24.  

- Piazza Anfiteatro: Special event dedicated to chocolate from November 29 to December 1.  

- Piazza San Giusto and Piazza XX Settembre: “Arti e Mestieri” fair on December 7, 8, 21, 22, 27, and 28.  

- Piazza San Frediano: Artisan market from December 18 to 24.  

- Piazza San Francesco: Traditional Christmas fair from December 8 to January 6.  

Ice Park Lucca: The Magic of Ice Skating

For the first time, the Ice Park Lucca will be set up at the Antico Caffè delle Mura square. The ice skating rink will be inaugurated on Friday, November 22, and open daily starting November 23. Skate under the stars or in daylight, surrounded by the historic beauty of the city, complete with entertainment and shows for the public.

Art Installations and Spectacular Lights

Squares and streets in the historic center will sparkle with over ten luminous installations, some designed by internationally renowned artists and designers like Emiliana Martinelli, Michelle Boucquillon, and Francesco Zavattari. Stunning Christmas light projections will illuminate key squares, adding charm and magic to the festive atmosphere.

The Christmas Factory and Santa’s House

Starting December 7, Vicolo San Carlo will transform into the Christmas Factory, a dedicated space for children featuring free workshops, creative activities, and the chance to meet Santa Claus in his magical room. Young visitors can write letters to Santa, hand-deliver them, and take a keepsake photo. Opening days are December 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22, from 3 PM to 7 PM.

Nativity Scenes and Traditions

The tradition of nativity scenes takes center stage with a route through churches and historic buildings in the city center:

- Loggiato del Palazzo Pretorio: A Nativity scene designed by Francesco Zavattari.  

- Chiesa di Santa Maria Nera: A historic 17th-century Nativity scene.  

- Chiesa di San Benedetto in Gottella: Artistic Nativity with scenic lighting and music.  

- Baluardo San Colombano: Nativity set up outside the namesake venue.  

- Sotterraneo della piattaforma San Frediano: “Fiat Pax,” featuring antique plaster figurines, curated by Historica Lucense.  

- National Museum of Villa Guinigi: A special focus on Nativities in the museum’s collection of grand paintings.  

AtmoSphere Circus: Christmas Becomes a Spectacle

For the first time in Lucca, the AtmoSphere Circus will take place at Piazzale Don Baroni from December 20 to January 19. This animal-free circus will present a unique show featuring 3D holographic animals and a 360° stage. A blend of innovation and tradition promises an unforgettable holiday experience.

Guided Tours and Thematic Walks

Lucca’s tourist guides offer original and engaging tours to explore the city immersed in its holiday spirit. For more details, visit the Tourism.Lucca website under the Stories & Treasures of Lucca section.

For full details and the complete program, visit the official Tourism.Lucca website.

At the Palazzina ex Cavallerizza in Lucca: an unmissable exhibition on the posters of Puccini's operas.

In the evocative setting of the Palazzina ex Cavallerizza, located in Piazzale Verdi in Lucca, an extraordinary exhibition is underway dedicated to the vintage posters of Giacomo Puccini's operas. The exhibition celebrates not only the musical genius of the Lucchese composer but also the graphic and illustrative art that helped spread the fame of his works.

The exhibition features a selection of 100 historic posters, masterpieces created by the most important illustrators of the era. Among these are illustrious names such as Plinio Nomellini and Galileo Chini, whose works captured the essence of Puccini's operas and conveyed to the public the emotion and charm of titles like La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot.

In addition to the posters dedicated to Puccini's works, the exhibition includes a selection of iconic works by the authors themselves, allowing visitors to explore the artistic and cultural context in which these creations took shape. These are true "author" posters, testimonies of a historical period in which visual art and music were deeply intertwined to create unique aesthetic experiences.

Opening hours and costs

The exhibition is open to the public every day, with continuous hours from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Admission to the exhibition costs €12 for adults, while a reduced price of €5 is available for students, seniors over 65, and organized groups. Entry is free for children under 10 years old and for residents of the Municipality of Lucca on the first Monday of every month.

The Hokusai Exhibition in Pisa: A Journey into Japanese Art

In Pisa, within the prestigious setting of Palazzo Blu, an extraordinary exhibition is underway dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, the renowned master of ukiyo-e. Featuring over 200 works, including masterpieces never before exhibited, this show offers a unique opportunity to explore the greatest exponent of ukiyo-e, an artistic movement reflecting the lifestyle and tastes of the emerging social classes in Edo, now Tokyo.

Opening Hours and Ticket Prices

The exhibition is open daily with the following hours:

Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Ticket prices:

Full price: €14

Reduced price: €10 (students, seniors over 65, groups of at least 10 people)

Special reduced price: €6 (children aged 6 to 12)

Free admission: children under 6 years, persons with disabilities, and one companion.

The famous Antiques Fair of Arezzo is one of the most important and largest antique fairs in Italy, held every first Sunday of the month and the preceding Saturday.

Pictures and paintings, small jewels, ancient and modern furniture, carpets, clocks, silverware, toys, books and vintage prints, collection stamps, musical instruments, gramophones and radios: it is easy to be charmed and indulge in discovering one of the biggest and oldest Italian Antiques Fairs. 

In 1968 a famous antiquarian and collector of Arezzo, Ivan Bruschi, gave birth to this fair which still today fills with its curious bric-a-brac the old town centre, its streets, yards, Vasari Loggia and wonderful Piazza Grande, every first weekend of the month.

For two days the town changes into a multicolor scenery of treasures waiting to be discovered by tourists and collectors: over five hundreds exhibitors from all over Italy meet here with their furniture and objects of all periods and styles, while antiquarians and restorers have multiplied their business, opening their shops during the fair and showing their best items. Experts of antiques and

modern antique collecting find here plenty of particular specializations, such as, for instance, scientific tools, Art-Nouveau stained glass windows, Art Deco furnishing.

First Sunday of the month: museums free entrance

It is a very important event involving all the State Museums with specials and free tickets access. Therefore, if you plan to visit Florence, Pisa, Lucca or any other Tuscan town our countless masterpieces without spending one Euro!

For instance in Florence you can visit: the Uffizi Gallery, Academy Museum, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum, Medici Chapels, and many other attractions. All of them free of charge!

List of  State Museums in Tuscany HERE. 

Every year, on January 6th, around 4:00 PM, Pistoia comes alive with one of the most anticipated and enchanting traditions of the Christmas season: the descent of the Befana from the bell tower of the Cathedral of San Zeno. This unique event is a mix of excitement, magic, and folklore that captivates both young and old, turning the city’s historic center into the vibrant heart of Epiphany celebrations.

The Befana, a symbolic figure of Italian folklore, is a character deeply rooted in popular culture. According to legend, on the night between January 5th and 6th, this elderly woman flies on a broomstick to deliver sweets and gifts to well-behaved children, while leaving coal for those who have been a bit naughty. In Pistoia, this tradition comes spectacularly to life, transforming the city into an open-air stage.

The highlight of the day is the breathtaking descent of the Befana from the bell tower of the Cathedral of San Zeno, one of Pistoia’s most iconic structures. With its 67 meters in height, it dominates Piazza del Duomo.

In the early afternoon, the crowd begins to gather in the square, surrounded by colorful stalls and the enticing aroma of traditional sweets. The atmosphere is made even livelier by Christmas music, street performers, and children’s entertainment. When the Befana finally appears at the top of the bell tower, the audience holds its breath. Dressed in her characteristic attire – apron, scarf, and broomstick – she begins her descent using a system of ropes and pulleys, delivering a moment of pure magic.

Accompanied by applause, shouts of excitement, and the musical backdrop of a local band, the Befana reaches the ground, greeted by the amazed faces of children who rush to meet her and receive sweets or small gifts from her hands.

Organizing an event of this scale requires weeks of preparation. The descent of the Befana is made possible thanks to the collaboration of mountaineering experts, firefighters, and local volunteers, who ensure both safety and the success of the initiative. Every detail is meticulously planned to guarantee an experience that is thrilling yet safe for all.

As usual, every second Saturday of the month, the next Brocantage at Porta a Mare returns to Livorno on January 11th, an event that has become a fixed appointment for vintage and antique enthusiasts. This market takes place in the stunning setting along the canal and in the adjacent squares of the Center, recently awarded as the best environmental recovery project at the European level.

The center, overlooking the Darsena (future tourist harbor), is situated on the canals that cross the city center (the Fossi Reali), at the beginning of the famous seaside promenade (Viale Italia), which leads to the Mascagni Terrace and the Aquarium, just 200 meters from the city’s iconic monument (the Four Moors), and half a kilometer from the historic Central Market.

It’s a great opportunity to spend a day in Livorno, exploring over a hundred stalls filled with all kinds of objects from the past, while experiencing the charm of the city. And don’t miss the chance to enjoy its rich and flavorful traditional Livornese cuisine!

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, January 11 and 25

from 7:00 PM to midnight

For an evening of pure relaxation, pamper yourself with a soothing bath under the stars in the thermal pool with rejuvenating whirlpools and

reinvigorate yourself with a steam bath in Europe's largest thermal cave at 34°C.

Includes:

Steam bath in natural thermal cave at 34°C (20 minutes)

Bathing under the stars in the 750 sqm thermal pool at 34°C with underwater whirlpools

Bathing in the Bioaquam thermal path at 34°C with rejuvenating whirlpools

Access to the Thermarium area

Access to the "Bioaquam Pavilion" the new covered and heated relaxation area of 310 m2

Lounge music

€35.00 by reservation

Bioaquam Café poolside open with à la carte menu

(payment upon consumption)

For more information, call 

+39 0572/9077992 or email terme@grottagiustispa.com

https://terme.grottagiustispa.com

In Pistoia, the second Saturday and Sunday of the month an antique fair is held which attracts  many dealers from all over Tuscany. Here you can find very valuable antiques: furniture, majolica, porcelain, jewelery, clocks, coins, old lacework, crystal goblets and profane and religious period paintings.

On the stalls you can find clothing, utensils and ethnic products, as well as magazines, comics, used garments and other items from the past. 

In wintertime, from November to March the market takes place in the so called Cattedrale - not to confuse with the real Cathedral - (Via Pertini) while from April to October (eccept July and August) the market takes place in the suggestive backdrop of the Cathedral square of Pistoia.

There are about 100 exhibitors who animate the historic city center with various kinds of antiques every second Saturday and Sunday of the month except July and August.

You will find ceramics, glassware and cutlery for a romantic table setting and a very good range of embroidered linen (perhaps an untouched trousseau from a failed marriage). Also sepia paintings, watercolours, vintage  postcards (full of insight into how we lived in the past and complete with shaky handwriting), out-of-print books for the attentive book collector, silver and gold coins from every corner of the globe and much, much more.

Where: Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Piazza Garibaldi

Second among the antique-dealers' market places of Tuscany for the number of its exhibitors and length of life, the Antique market of Lucca can boast of a solid tradition of quality and reliability thanks to professional antiquarians of high prestige who have always been an important presence in town. 

At the third weekend of each month (on Saturday and Sunday), from 8 am to 7 pm, Lucca opens its gates for a joyful event involving a large portion of the historical centre: from Piazza S. Martino, Piazza Antelminelli and Via Del Battistero - the historical antique dealers' street- ‚ to Piazza San Giusto, and Piazza S. Giovanni up to Piazza Bernardini. It is a gorgeous display of colorful stalls offering not only past vestiges of remarkable artistic value, but also traces of souvenirs impressed on a post-card, on a book, on a knick-knack or on an ornament. 

Furniture, clothes, fabrics, paintings, rare components of old instruments, lamps and chandeliers, old working tools, records..... a wide pattern of old or antique objects‚ patiently gathered and collected after explorations which

are getting more and more difficult. All these things speak to both the tourist and the lover, of a world, which has gone, but not willing to be forgotten yet.

Two unforgettable days around the most charming

streets of the town. It is Art facing Art, History meeting History. A really unique occasion to know Lucca better and taste the pleasure of peeping through the stalls in search of something beautiful to take home and - why not?- probably also making a good bargain! 

An event bringing the best of vintage and handmade crafts to Pisa, set in a charming retro atmosphere inside a stunning and professional venue.

Outside the Stazione Leopolda, you'll find a delightful culinary experience with street food, beer stands, gluten-free options, grilled meats, and arrosticini… two days of excellence and deliciousness!

Vintage Market & Handmade - PISA

January 25th and 26th

From 10 AM to 7 PM

Stazione Leopolda

Piazza Guerrazzi, Pisa

The Arts and Crafts market takesplace in the historic center of Lucca, with a big number of exhibitors that meet every last weekend of the month in Piazza San Giusto, Piazza Cittadella and Piazza XX Settembre with many traditional and original products from Tuscany.

There are ceramists, painters, sculptors, leather, glass and papier-mâché artisans, weavers, jewelers, cabinet makers, seamstresses and embroiderers, knitting and crochet experts. The artisans-artists offer their exclusive products in a colorful market: bijoux in silver, ceramic and crochet, natural products for body care, fountain pens worked on the lathe, bags, belts and leather bracelets, painted stones, scented lavender, splendid paintings and sculptures.