Tour Details
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
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- Santa Maria Maggiore
- Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
- Santi Cosma e Damiano
- Monti Neighborhood
Photos & Highlights
- A blend of historical exploration and festive charm, offering a unique view of Rome's Christmas traditions.
Select a date
Tour Description
Picture yourself strolling through the cobblestone streets, wrapped in the enchanting atmosphere of Rome at Christmas. Your journey will take you to the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Cosmos and Damian, and Santa Maria in Aracoeli churches, each brimming with historical significance and adorned with stunning nativity scenes. These intricate displays are not just a feast for the eyes but a heartwarming insight into Italian culture, where the nativity scene is a cherished holiday centerpiece in most homes.
Let your Context Expert lead you through the heart of Rome, where the Monti neighborhood awaits with its charming window displays and twinkling decorations. As you wander, the festive spirit of Rome surrounds you, inviting immersion in local holiday customs and craftsmanship. Don't hesitate to ask your guide for a pause to savor a traditional Christmas pastry, such as pangiallo or torrone.
Available only from December 8th to January 6th, this 3-hour tour offers an intimate exploration of Roman Holiday traditions. Delve into the significance of nativities and relics, enriching your Christmas experience in Rome with authenticity and wonder.
- You are excited to experience the personal touch of a private guide during Rome's bustling holiday season, offering you exclusive insights and stories that bring the city's Christmas traditions to life.
- Santa Maria Maggiore - A Christmas visit here offers a unique connection to the nativity story, a glimpse at a relic of the original manger from Bethlehem.
- Santa Maria in Ara Coeli - This church hosts a special Christmas Eve celebration where children from around the world recite poems and sing carols in front of the Santo Bambino, a wooden statue of the infant Jesus.
- Santi Cosma e Damiano - Celebrated for its breathtaking early Christian mosaics, each year it crafts a giant nativity scene that artfully combines ancient heritage with contemporary artistry
- Monti Neighborhood - During December, the Monti neighborhood transforms into a festive wonderland with its artisan shops and boutiques beautifully decorated, offering a picturesque stroll through one of Rome's most charming areas.
General Information
- To ensure everyone enjoys the tour, let us know of any mobility concerns during booking.
- This tour entails a moderate 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) walk, including uneven cobbled streets.
Tickets
- This tour does not include any advance admission ticket costs.
- Please note that snacks or souvenirs will be at your own expense.
Dress Code
- Please dress modestly for your tour, covering shoulders and knees.
- You may be asked to remove hats inside churches.
Resources
- For additional information on planning your visit to Italy, explore our Context Stories.
- Enhance your understanding of Rome with our online lectures and audio guides before your tour.
For more information about Context Tours, please visit our FAQs.
Is this a Food Tour?
No. This tour may include a stop for a seasonal treat or coffee, but for a deeper dive into Roman holiday food traditions, we recommend our Rome Holiday Food Tour.
Is this tour appropriate for kids?
Absolutely! Please mention your children's ages and interests when booking to ensure we assign a guide who's great with kids.
Absolutely! Please mention your children's ages and interests when booking to ensure we assign a guide who's great with kids.
What happens if there’s inclement weather on my tour date?
Rain or shine, our tour goes on! We're equipped to make your experience delightful, regardless of the weather.
Rain or shine, our tour goes on! We're equipped to make your experience delightful, regardless of the weather.
Is photography allowed inside the churches?
During the holiday season, the churches we visit are stunningly decorated, and we understand the urge to capture these moments. However, photography rules in Italian churches differ based on the season and church authorities' discretion. If photography is allowed, we kindly ask that you avoid using flash to protect the ancient artworks' integrity. Always look out for signs indicating photography policies or ask your guide for assistance.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
21 Reviews
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Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
So far, I've been very impressed. I am not normally a tour person, as I tend to prefer to enjoy sites at my own pace. But on the "Rome Holiday walks", Lauren Golden tied together many historical odds and ends that I had been puzzling over throughout my trip in Italy (I had visited Venice and Florence prior to Rome). Wonderful holiday treat, and Santa Maria Maggiore was something I would have missed if left to my own devices. So glad I saw it! Would you please pass a message on to Lauren for me? Tell her that I did go to Capitoline Museum because she had intrigued me, and I indeed did love the Tabularium. Astounding and the only thing I've seen close to it is the Qing Chinese house in the courtyard of Salem, MA's Peabody Essex Museum. The view of the ruins from the tabularium is the closest I've come to standing in the shoes of the 19th century travel writers. Grazie!
Sarah
Jan. 4, 2017
We really enjoyed the quality of the tour guide....Dr. Golden was great....she was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of background information...it was really like a bunch of friends out for a walk...Everything worked....she was a great guide....she knows a lot about the places we visited and shared that knowledge in a very nice easy going way.
Frank
Dec. 28, 2016
It was a perfect day! What more can be said?
Leigh ann
Dec. 25, 2013
There's No Place Like Rome for the Holidays
Learn more with Chiara
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