Hi All,
We are thinking of spending the holidays in Florence this year and I would love to hear from anyone who has done the same. Any hints on special holiday experiences, events, or things to plan for would be most appreciated! Are museums etc open around the holidays?

Thanks in advance!

Everything is open except on Christmas day (plus they also observe their usual closing days), the churches are decorated in glorious fashion, and there is lots of music with the services, the shop windows are colorful and the bakeries can be filled with marvelous cakes -- although Italy does not traditionally go over the top with Christmas lights, trees, etc, ala Germany, the UK or America (although this is changing a bit). Christmas retains an air of a religious/family event, with traditional sweets and religious happenings.

Daylight hours will be very short. You will experience high-season prices if you stay in the heart of town, and you may experience intense crowds in the final shopping days before Christmas, and then once again when the Christmas holiday is over, which is a vacation week for Italians. Many Italians like to take their children to Italy's great historic cities during school holiday breaks. So museums and sights can be jam-packed.

Florence can be bitterly cold at that time of year, and can get days of rain or some snow. There are so many indoor sights that bad weather only interferes with a fraction of the most important sightseeing, but it does slow you down. Best to get a hotel with good heating and bring good waterproof shoes and warm socks, plus other layers.

Zeppole - thanks so much for the helpful and practical advice!! You bring up some factors we had not thought of so I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks to you both!
We are considering the same trip, with our two daughters, ages 16 and 20. We thought about staying in Florence, as it would give the girls access to some independence in wandering the city. It sounds like there will be plenty going on.
So, mille grazie!

I spent one Christmas in Florence. It was more damp than cold and hotel prices were quite low compared to other seasons. There was not much open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the streets were fairly quiet.

It was not crowded at all and was quite festive with the decorations.

Thanks a million everyone. Durhamnc: maybe we'll bump into each other!!

rosaleendark, I found these online if you're interested. They're about Florence at Christmas time.

http://www.florencevillas.com/newsle...tter_16.html#2

http://www.dreamofitaly.com/public/430.cfm

http://www.suite101.com/content/flor...arkets-a174902


and for concerts, ballet, etc: www.firenze.turismo.toscana.it