(Reposted with new title - thanks for the suggestion Michelle)<BR><BR>We are planning a trip to Italy at the end of this year, so this will probably be the first of many requests for advice! We are planning on two weeks in Italy, including Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, Lakes Dist, Milan. We will be there for both Christmas and New Year, so trying to plan the itinerary to ensure we can have a nice Christmas day without everything being closed. <BR><BR>I was thinking Rome would be the best bet - has anyone had a good Christmas experience in Rome they can recommend? A hotel that serves a festive meal to travellers far from home? (I should add that we will have three teenage boys with us as well, so unfortunately can't afford the luxury end of the market).<BR><BR>All suggestions gratefully received.<BR>

Dear Ozzie:<BR><BR>If you don't get much of a reply this weekend, top it for Monday. This site seems to get more use during the week.

Hi <BR><BR>Try this thread<BR><BR>http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=34386308<BR><BR>

Dear Ozzie:<BR><BR>I did a search last night and topped them for you, I hope you checked them out. Do a search here by typing Christmas in the search box above and then choosing Italy, then search. You will get many postings to weed through.<BR><BR>Is this your first trip to Italy? Just a thought: Lakes may be pretty dead and cold. <BR><BR>Good luck

Thanks Michelle, I did read the old threads - sounds like the Piazza Navonna might be a suitably festive place to be! <BR>Re the Lakes, I know it's a bit cold for water sports, but hope the scenery is still worthwhile - as we will be in that area anyway... <BR><BR>Thanks again for your help

We spent the Milleneum Christmas in Rome and it was everything we hoped and more. The weather was perfect, no rain, and Christmas Day (after visiting the Pope at Saint Peter) we had a delightful lunch at an OUTSIDE sidewalk table in Plz. Popolo.)<BR> Midnight Mass at S. Maria in Aracoeli was a wonder. It was a mild night and we arrived at 10 pm and spent an hour on the belvedere admiring the ruins of the Forum, which were briliantly lit and under a full moon.) Our nightime photographs turned out marvelously . At 11:15, we entered the church. There were only a few people and we chose a pew about 10 rows from the alter. It was standing room only when the beautiful midnight ceremony began with the unveiling of the Santo Bambino, everyone applaluding as it was revealed. We are not Catholic but felt we were a part of this warm and moving event. After taking in the spectacular panoramic view of Rome from the church's front porch (the Vatican, churches and monuments still brightly lit at 1:30 in the morning) we caught a cab without trouble to our hotel in the Campo Dei Fiori.<BR> Many good restaurants were opened 24th-26th. For other vistor reports on their Christmas in Rome experience check out: http://www.initaly.com/regions/xmas/memories.htm <BR>