Lights, garlands and decorated trees bring the magic of the season to Venice’s streets and squares. As Christmas approaches, the city comes alive. The festive lights, set to glow from November 21, will illuminate alleyways and squares throughout Venice. Titled “Christmas Takes Center Stage in Venice,” this calendar of events—organized by the Municipality of Venice and Vela Spa—offers a vibrant lineup to enchant locals and visitors of all ages.
The celebrations officially begin with the lighting of the Christmas displays, starting on the day of the Festa della Salute. This year, special attention is paid to sustainability, with a plan that schedules specific times for turning the lights on and off, using only energy-efficient LED technology. By carefully managing lighting schedules—switching off main systems at night and dimming them after Epiphany weekend until Carnival—the total energy cost will match last year’s.
Christmas lights will shine across Piazza San Marco and the entire Marciana area, as well as the main streets in the districts of Santa Croce, Cannaregio, San Polo, Dorsoduro, San Marco, and Castello. The lighting in Venice’s historic center is made possible by cooperation between the Municipality of Venice, Vela Spa, and the Venice Chamber of Commerce, aiming to support local residents and visitors this Christmas. American Express also remains a key sponsor, lighting up Piazzale Roma (the city’s gateway) and important streets like Lista di Spagna and Strada Nuova, directly supporting Venice’s commercial community.
In Mestre, the heart of Christmas is in Piazza Ferretto. Here and in surrounding neighborhoods—and across all “cities of Venice”, from the mainland to the islands—sparkling decorations are set to delight children and adults. In Piazza Ferretto, a grand Christmas tree will take center stage amid radiant holiday installations—true light sculptures—extending along Mestre’s main shopping avenues: from central viale Garibaldi, corso del Popolo, via Piave, via Carducci, via Miranese, via Circonvallazione, piazzale Leonardo da Vinci, viale San Marco, via Torre Belfredo, and outwards to centers like Campalto, Chirignago, Favaro, Gazzera, Marghera, Tessera, Trivignano, and Zelarino.
An almost unbroken stream of lights will reach even the lagoon’s islands—from Lido to Pellestrina, Murano, Burano, Sant’Erasmo and Vignole—ensuring every Venitian community glows for the holidays.
On November 25th, the Piazza Ferretto Christmas tree will be lit, followed by the grand tree in Piazza San Marco on December 2nd. From November 25, Mestre will welcome both its much-anticipated ice skating rink and Christmas market with traditional wooden chalets, enlivening the main streets, Piazza Ferretto and via Poerio, with crafts, delicacies, and the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine filling the air. Venice’s spectacular skating rink in Campo San Polo will open on December 3, while the one in Piazza Mercato, Marghera, has already started (since San Martino’s day) and will host skating showcases, DJ sets, and a cosplay parade.
Christmas also offers a great chance to explore the city’s artistic treasures: all museums remain open during the holidays, including major shows like “Anselm Kiefer” at Palazzo Ducale (until January 6) and “Kandinsky and the Avant-Garde” at Mestre’s Centro Culturale Candiani (until February 21, 2023).
Traditional Christmas runs and the classic Befana festival will take place, and music lovers can enjoy seasonal concerts at the Basilica di San Marco and Mestre’s cathedral in December, culminating with the New Year’s Concert at Teatro La Fenice, conducted by Daniel Harding, on Sunday, January 1, 2023 (broadcast live on RAI 1 at 12:20 pm).
Entertainment and shows for adults and children alike bring back the enchanting tale of Christmas—a magical postcard from one of the world’s most atmospheric destinations.
