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
- Enjoy a blend of historical exploration and festive charm, gaining a deeper view of Rome's Christmas traditions.
- Stroll with a local through Rome’s authentic Monti neighborhood, known for its twinkling holiday decorations and artisan window displays.
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Tour Description
Take a stroll through Rome’s ancient cobblestone streets, surrounded by the soft glow of golden lights and a cheerful greeting from locals passing by. With your Context expert by your side, you’ll explore the Monti neighborhood, one of the city's most authentic quarters. Here, Monti’s sense of community shines through in its charming window displays and twinkling lights, offering a more intimate and personal holiday experience away from the tourist-heavy areas.
Your journey will take you to the magnificent Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Cosmos and Damian, and Santa Maria in Aracoeli churches. Each is brimming with historical significance and adorned with stunning nativity scenes—masterpieces of craftsmanship that bring to life the heart of Italy’s Christmas traditions. Every figure, from the humble shepherds to the majestic kings, feels alive with history and devotion.
Your expert will share insights into the cultural significance of Rome's holiday traditions, from the nativity scenes that adorn the churches to the beloved seasonal pastries like sweet, spiced pangiallo or chewy torrone. Don’t hesitate to ask your guide for a pause to sample one of these traditional Christmas pastries.
Available only from December 8th to January 6th, this 3-hour tour offers a curated and intimate exploration of Roman holiday traditions, taking you beyond the surface to discover the deeper stories, customs, and flavors that make Christmas in the Eternal City unforgettable.
- You seek a local’s insight into Roman holiday traditions to better understand the nativities, relics, and local customs that define Christmas in the city.
- You’d like to explore lesser-known sites and neighborhoods for a more intimate and locally connected setting.
- You crave an insider recommendation to all the best spots for holiday pastries and treats!
- You want to experience the unique holiday atmosphere, filled with lights, decor, and a vibrant community spirit, that’s only available once a year.
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
We understand that some of our valued guests may have mobility concerns, and we want to ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable experience throughout your tour. If there are any accessibility concerns that your tour guide will need to be aware of, please let our team know at the time of booking.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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21 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Chiara was friendly and a wealth of knowledge about the city, the basilicas and churches, and pointed out spots along the way. Our walk to each nativity scene was interesting and at a comfortable pace. At our request we made a detour for cappuccino and a small bite. She led us to a lovely shop for the best coffee with baked goods to match, which we could not have found on our own. Our entire tour felt very personalized and rich with time in each setting. The basilicas and churches were stunning and special and we loved hearing the history of each nativity scene. Chiara speaks English well (and taught us a bit of Italian!) She was special and our time with her unforgettable. (We also took her advice for a dinner spot and had an extraordinary dinner!) Thank you, Chiara!
Sher
Dec 18, 2019
Chiara was so very responsive to our every need and question.
Spectacular way to start our week in Rome.
Barbara
Dec 15, 2019
All info was excellent as usual. Docent was very caring for me on back streets and ways to go up hills. Once again at end of tour I was too tired to spend more time at Aracoeli whre we ended. I had planned to go back there and to SS Cosmas and Damian, but trip was cut short when I got the flu in Florence and while making it back to Rome was not able to build up my strength to stay so came home two weeks early.
As usual Context was excellent.
Joan
Feb 5, 2018
There's No Place Like Rome for the Holidays
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