What to do for the long weekend of 8 December in Rome: the scheduled events
The long weekend of the Immaculate Conception this year invites you to plan many activities and, if you want, even a short trip or a trip out of town. Despite the recent anti-Covid provisions, it is still possible to spend these days outdoors immersed in the evocative atmosphere of Christmas, walking among the lights and decorations of Rome and the many villages not far from the city.
What to do in Rome for the Immaculate Conception
Staying in the city, you can take a tour of the most particular Christmas markets where you can find new decorations and shop for gifts. spend a day in one of the Or Christmas villages of Rome, and immerse yourself in fairytale worlds also attending shows suitable for all ages. Walking through the alleys of the center you can plan a visit to one of the many exhibitions that can be visited in these days, from those on display in the city’s museums to those in the open air. For those who prefer to choose a door, you can go to the discovery of the many villages of Lazio which these days are illuminated with artistic lights and, passing through small squares, invite you to immerse yourself in the many local Christmas traditions.
Here are some suggestions from RomaToday to better enjoy the long weekend of 8 December:
A trip to the villages
There are many villages in Lazio that deserve to be discovered. Destinations not far from Rome where you can find a lot of relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and shopping. Places that have always been evocative, now even more so with Christmas lights and decorations. Places where you can spend even just a day, planning your return in the evening. Among these we suggest Castel San Pietro Romano, the village which is also an open-air museum having served as a film set for a number of films, including the series “Pane, Amore e…”. Or you can reach the village of Arpino, the birthplace of Cicerone and the Mastroianni family, and after a stroll through the alleys visit the ancient Acropolis of Civita Vecchia. Another trip out of town, not far from Rome, can be done in the small medieval village of Roccantica and discover the charm of a place that has remained intact, with its stone houses between narrow alleys and squares.
A tour of the markets
In this long bridge there is time to plan a tour between one and more markets, in Rome and in the vicinity. At the Capannelle Hippodrome on Saturday and Sunday, for example, you can spend a few hours among the stands of the traditional Japanese themed market exhibition. On 8 December in Borghetto San Carlo the Christmas market is an opportunity to browse the banquets of local artisans and taste good mulled wine accompanied by music. Or outside Rome, in Poggio Mirteto, where after a tour of the craft stands of the Christmas market you can stop for the Padellaccia Festival and taste this typical local dish. Or in Cittareale, where on Sunday 12 the Christmas market returns to enliven the atmosphere of the village with stalls displaying handicrafts, Christmas gifts and typical local products.
The Christmas World village exhibition
At the Auditorium Parco della Musica opens Christmas World, the largest experiential exhibition to celebrate Christmas and promote the differences that embellish every culture. A true open-air museum, where you can travel through the Christmas atmospheres of the whole world through an exhibition itinerary where the iconic monuments of the cities explored will be the protagonists, handcrafted by the most appreciated Italian artists in the sector. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]
The Christmas Villages in the parks
There are many amusement parks in the city, or just outside, which are decorated and illuminated for Christmas and where you can spend an entire day between shows and plays of light, or simply immersing yourself in magical Christmas atmospheres. Like Cinecittà World where in addition to a market full of sweets you can visit the many Christmas attractions suitable for adults and children. Or in the Castle of Length visit the Fantastic Castle of Santa Claus, and become a little child again by letting yourself be accompanied by elves and fairies, and visit the special art exhibition dedicated to Santa Claus.
The exhibitions in museums and in the open air
By deciding to take a walk in the center, you can plan a stop at the museum and dedicate some time to art, which perhaps tells about Rome from other perspectives. Like the photographic exhibition “Labirinti in Trastevere” at the Trastevere Museum, where the shots tell the thirteenth district from a new perspective. Or take a tour of the works of six street artists who participated in the “Art Stop Monti” project at Metro Cavour. There are also works of street art at the “Passion, lines and graffiti” exhibition at the Wire Coworking space, a collective exhibition of various artistic styles. Or take a closer look at the works of Klimt on display at Palazzo Braschi, and discover his original masterpieces by the artist which will remain in Italy for only a few months.
A tour among the nativity scenes
It can be an opportunity to discover the beauty of artistic works and an opportunity to also take a trip. In San Vito Romano, turning through the streets of the town, you can admire many particular nativity scenes and then stop among the stands to taste many food and wine products. In Alatri you can visit the 18th exhibition of artistic nativity scenes which opens on Sunday 12 December at the Civic Museum of the city. In Rome, in the Settebagni district, at the Tempio di Roma Visitor Center opens the exhibition of art cribs. From those of Neapolitan art and Palestinian art, to those of lost Rome and popular crafts. The crib can also be an opportunity to attend a suggestive show, which takes us back to Bethlehem two thousand years ago for a couple of hours. As in Ariccia, where the re-enactment of the Living Nativity scene will take place at the Don Bosco Oratory.
Shows for children
Among the proposals that the city offers on this Immaculate Conception there is certainly that space for the theater, dedicated to children and families. Like the show scheduled for Saturday 11 December at the Tree of Life entitled “Waiting for the Befana” at 4 pm Or the show dedicated to Santa Claus, always on Saturday 11 at 4 pm, “Santa Claus has overslept” for children among the 2 and 8 years. Puppet shows and a Christmas show with Mickey and the White Fairy is scheduled in Pavona where the little ones can play on inflatables and visit Santa’s house, in the recreated Santa Claus Village.
The Solara Christmas Village
You can experience the atmosphere of the Northern European markets for a while at the Solara Christmas Village. An exhibition divided into thematic areas between special lights, sweet fragrances, trees, nativity scenes and elements of decoration and furniture from all over the world. A stop for Christmas shopping in an indoor area of 4000 square meters. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]
The Christmas market in the Brewery
Sunday 12 September at the Birreria 568 in the Garbatella district the Christmas market returns with artisans and exhibitors as protagonists. An opportunity to do Christmas shopping, drinking good beer. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]
A sound tour of Rome
Walk through the streets of Rome and hear how some districts of the city sound. Between a walk and the other, on this bridge on December 8, you can take part in the Creature Festival which on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 December offers a visit to the Museum of the Walls at the end of which there will be a jazz performance created by Beng ! Band on the terrace of the tower. [TUTTE LE INFORMAZIONI]
Two evenings of concerts
Why not take advantage of the long bridge to listen to live music at concerts in the city? Maybe at the Auditorium Parco della Musica where David BOOSTA Dileo, keyboardist and co-founder of the electronic group Subsonica, will play. At the Sin Studio Saturday 11 December there will be a concert by Deddy, lead singer of the talent Amici, who will sing the songs from his first album of unreleased songs.