Rome is a truly extraordinary city during Christmas. The streets light up in pretty, flashing lights and shop windows display scenes out of your favourite xmas movie. We have wrapped up eight of our favourite activities to do in the capital, during this festive season.
1
Light Installation: Trame di Luce at the Botanical Gardens in Rome
From the 30th November – 6th January, travellers visiting Rome can book this extraordinary experience in the Botanical Gardens: Trame di Luce is a sensory exhibition that features a journey through artistic installations and innovative, interactive luminous artworks. All are eco-friendly and created in collaboration with national and international artists, select Italian universities, and even an Italian Nobel Prize-winning professor. WEBSITE
2
Winter punch in Rome’s prettiest courtyard bar
From 26th November to 28th February, Hotel de Russie and its iconic Stravinskij Bar will host the Winter Punch Bar, offering guests a cosy alfresco experience in the heart of Rome. Set in the Secret Garden, designed by Giuseppe Valadier, the courtyard has been transformed into an urban mountain chalet, complete with luxurious Frette ponchos and cashmere blankets. enjoy an exclusive menu of hot and cold punches crafted by expert mixologists paired with sweet and savoury creations by Chef Fulvio Pierangelini. The experience is enhanced by “Cinema Excellence,” an exhibition curated by Frette and fashion photographer Maddalena Petrosino. Featuring 26 black-and-white portraits of contemporary Italian cinema stars like Monica Bellucci and Valeria Golino, the exhibition celebrates Italian artistry, stretching from the Frette boutique in Piazza di Spagna to the hotel’s gallery. WEBSITE
3
Teatro dell’Opera: The Nutcracker
Can you really call it Christmas if you haven’t seen The Nutcracker ? Like Love Actually, Elf or Home Alone, there are a handful of family traditions that many of us have to ‘tick-off’, for it to truly feel like Christmas. We are lovers of the ballet, and with The Nutcracker running in Rome at the Opera Theatre, we could not be more excited. The performance will run from the 15th – 24th December, and you can book your tickets here.
Can you really call it Christmas if you haven’t seen The Nutcracker ? Like Love Actually, Elf or Home Alone, there are a handful of family traditions that many of us have to ‘tick-off’, for it to truly feel like Christmas. We are lovers of the ballet, and with The Nutcracker running in Rome at the Opera Theatre, we could not be more excited. The performance will run from the 15th – 24th December, and you can book your tickets here.
4
Afternoon Tea at Vivi – Le Serre
VIVI Le Serre is tucked away in the quieter corners of Rome, in the heart of the Monte Mario district. A health-focused bistro whose breakfasts, lunches and dinners have been stealing the hearts of the locals. This winter, their Afternoon Tea ritual is enriched with an unlimited buffet of artisanal sweets and cookies created by VIVI’s new brand, Borboletta. From the buttery aroma of freshly baked scones to daily-crafted artisanal desserts like fragrant apple crumble made with organic sweet apples, banana bread with sugar glaze, tiramisu bites, and mini cream-filled profiteroles, your tea-time awaits. WEBSITE
5
art at The Hoxton Rome
From December 4th to March 4th, you can explore the works of Alice Asnaghi that celebrate the bond between humanity and nature. After a formative journey that took her to Australia and various cities around the world, she now resides in Rome, where she creates works that blend realism with fairy-tale visions. Her acrylic paintings on canvas provoke deep reflection on the beauty and value of the nature surrounding us. WEBSITE
6
contemporary art exhibition
Contemporary Artist Filippo Scorcucchi will host an exhibition at Studio Gr*a in Rome from 7th December to 7th February. The collection ‘Amnio’ showcases a cycle of paintings that draw on a suspended regression. The works, rendered in white, capture a series of conscious and unconscious occurrences—serene yet suddenly disruptive, much like the movements of a fetus during gestation. It is there that the eyes seem to open, even if just for a moment, to grasp those thoughts and states of the soul. ‘Amnio’ is the sac that contains and protects both the decay and the purity revealed in every existence.
7
Festive Cocktail at Cielo Bar
Warm up your winter at Cielo Bar, surrounded by the Rome skyline, and taste one of the new signature drinks, available through the winter season. Their carousel of cocktails are inspired by London and its renowned Winter Wonderland. Choose your attraction, from the soaring citrus notes of Dragon’s Nest to the heady hints of London Dry Gin in the Time Machine Coaster, whisking you away to Hyde Park’s frost-covered fairground without ever leaving the beauty of the Eternal City. Whilst your there, make sure you admire the sparkling Christmas installations including the tree, created in collaboration with Brioni. The ornaments are made repurposed with hand-made silk from Brioni’s previous collections. WEBSITE
8
Mulled wine at the Six Senses
In the Eternal City, Christmas is a magical experience, and the Six Senses this year has launched a rich programme that fills the month of December with excitement. One in particular that we will suggest is the Mulled Wine ritual: Every day, from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM, from December 8 to December 31, homemade mulled wine and apple fritters will be served to both hotel guests and external visitors. WEBSITE