Christmas markets and lights in Lucca and Florence

Here we are! Christmas is coming and, like every year, a lot of Italian cities are starting to welcome tourists and cheer up the locals with Christmas markets, events, illuminations, and installations.

From 23 November 2024 to 6 January 2025, Lucca will be transformed into Lucca Magico Natale (Lucca Magical Christmas): the perfect opportunity to get to know a lot of places, to share a hot chocolate in a special café, and to spend the holidays with friends and family in an unforgettable way, amidst events, markets, installations, and colorful luminaries.

Let’s see all the initiatives of Lucca Magico Natale 2024 and discover some of the best Christmas markets in Tuscany (Italy)!

Installations in the old town of Lucca

Once again this year, the installations animating the historic center of Lucca are curated by various internationally renowned artists.

The Belgian architect Michel Boucquillon offers us a new version of his Christmas tree Bark for Christmas.

Lucca designer Emiliana Martinelli invites us into her Riflessioni nel bosco and her Cielo stellato.

Multimedia artist Francesco Zavattari gives life to an art nativity scene composed of large traditional plaster statues by the artisans of the Serchio Valley.

There are also other nativity scenes that animate the city: the historic dressed nativity scene in the church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, the artistic nativity scene in the small church of San Benedetto in Gottella, and the traditional nativity scene in the gunnery of San Frediano.

Artistic illuminations, decorations, and colored lights in Lucca

Christmas decorations are obviously not to be missed: look around the city for colorful lights and decorations to photograph with friends, family, and partners, perhaps while sipping a good hot chocolate.

You can admire a lot of beautiful, bright decorations around the city:

• San Michele square: the white marble of the church hosts a starry sky, while a large comet fills the square and an artist’s nativity scene enriches the loggia of Pretorio Palace.
• Ducale Palace: some magical projections provide a backdrop to the markets in Napoleon square.
• Anfiteatro square: a bright Christmas design runs between the windows and terraces of the buildings that embrace the square.

Traditional Christmas markets in Lucca

There is no Christmas without the Christmas markets! This year, Lucca decided to outdo itself, planning many typical markets in which to immerse oneself in the search for gifts, gastronomic products, and handicraft objects. 

In the heart of the historic center, in Napoleon square, the traditional Lucca Magico Natale market comes alive: a market-village set up with typical small wooden houses, live shows and performances, animations and meetings with Santa Claus. The perfect opportunity to get to know local and regional craftsmen and producers, and to fill up on Christmas specialties, and unique gifts. The market is open every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on holidays.

The loggia of Sani Palace hosts the Meraki Market’s artists and craftsmen during the three most festive weekends of the month: 7-8, 14-15 and 21-24 December.

On the other hand, Anfiteatro square hosts the market of creative artists and artisans, and on the same weekend you can find LuccaChocolate in San Frediano square (30 November – 1 December).

But the craft markets do not end here: in San Giusto square you will find the Arti e Mestieri Xmas Edition Market (7-8, 14-15 and 21-24 December).

For lovers of vintage and old-fashioned flavors, there is also the unmissable Antiques Market, which animates the square and the streets around St Martin’s Cathedral on 14 and 15 December.

Moreover, on 30 November and 1, 7 and 8 December, you can enjoy the 19th edition of the market-exhibition dedicated to local flavors: Il Desco, in the cloister of the Real Collegio.

Finally, leaving the historical center and visiting the surroundings of Lucca, you will find the markets of Sant’Angelo in Campo, the traditional fair of Sant’Ansano in Ponte a Moriano (1 December), and other markets on 24 December in Ponte a Moriano.

Christmas markets in Florence: a not-to-be-missed experience in Tuscany

If you’re planning to stay in Tuscany for a few days, you can’t miss the Christmas markets in Florence!

In the extraordinary setting of Santa Croce square, the largest Christmas market of the entire city will take place from 23 November to 24 December 2024: a small village with typical South Tyrolean wooden chalets, in which you will find 50 international style little houses with gift ideas, clothes, handicrafts things and household items. In addition, you can enjoy hot chocolate, crepes, strudel, and mulled wine, as well as Dutch waffles and Austrian pretzels. 

Other markets are waiting for you in Santa Maria Novella square (7-22 December), at the Manifattura Tabacchi (7-8 and 21-22 December), in San Donato (16 November – 6 January), and in many other magical places.

Between shopping and good food, your Florence tour will be unforgettable

Book now your Christmas getaway to Lucca to experience this magical period among illuminations, installations, markets, and good food. Antica Bifore Guest House is already decorated, ready to welcome all the guests in the lively heart of the old town of this unique and magical city.