With the splendor of summer behind us, Forte dei Marmi returns to brilliance with the festive Christmas season. Endless lights illuminate the seaside palms, the streets of the town center, and the majestic tree at the base of the pier. The inviting shop windows contribute to an atmosphere of contagious joy.
Children’s Celebration
“Christmas in Forte,” the traditional series of events organized by the municipal administration, naturally highlights children as the stars. They are the focus of Santa Claus’ Village, set up this year at Pinetina Tarabella, featuring games, shows, workshops, and Santa’s House, where Santa Claus himself is ready to fulfill the wishes of the little ones.
Next to the Village, the covered Ice Skating Rink is open until January 12, operating until 11 PM, offering everyone the chance to glide on the ice.
Christmas Shopping
The Christmas Market returns this year to Piazza Garibaldi and remains open daily until Boxing Day. Strolling among the carefully selected stalls, visitors can find decorations and festive home décor, toys for children, and handcrafted items.
In addition, the weekly market in Piazza Marconi will have special Sunday openings throughout December, while the regular Wednesday markets on December 25 and January 1 will be rescheduled to the preceding Tuesdays.
Entertainment and Music
The center of Forte will come alive on weekends with street performers and musicians. There will be gospel concerts, including a performance by the Joyful Gospel Ensemble on Sunday, December 29, at 5:30 PM in Piazza Garibaldi.
Piazza Garibaldi will also host the New Year’s Eve Concert on December 31 at 9:30 PM, and a New Year’s Day concert at 12:30 PM.
Art and Culture
In addition to Christmas festivities, the Fortino continues to host the exhibition The Egyptians and the Gifts of the Nile, organized in collaboration with the Egyptian Museum of Turin and extended until April 2, 2025.
Villa Bertelli offers a rich calendar of events featuring music, art, and culture. Visitors can also explore the brand-new Quarto Platano Museum of the Twentieth Century.
Out-of-Town Excursions
The Versilia region and its surroundings offer countless Christmas events, including markets, shows, and nativity scenes. While it’s impossible to list them all, here are a couple of recommendations.
First, the splendid city of Lucca becomes even more enchanting during the holidays, with festive lights adorning its streets and squares. This year, three historic and charming locations—Palazzo Ducale, Piazza San Michele, and the magnificent Piazza dell’Anfiteatro—will serve as backdrops for captivating video mapping shows.
In the Church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the city, visitors can admire the Dressed Nativity Scene until Epiphany. This rare example from the late 1600s features statues, some originating from Naples, dressed in exquisite textiles crafted in Lucca.
In Nocchi, a hamlet in the municipality of Camaiore, the Living Nativity Scene is staged each year on the afternoon of December 26. The entire charming medieval village becomes the setting for a sacred reenactment, with residents portraying ancient trades, shepherds, laundresses, basket weavers, and a moving Nativity.
A Festive Villa
In Vittoria Apuana, we recommend a villa perfect not only for summer vacations but for year-round use, including the Christmas holidays.
With its splendid garden and pool, spacious outdoor areas, a large dining room, a living room with a fireplace, and six generously sized bedrooms, Villa Bonheur is the ideal home for gathering family and friends for the holidays—and beyond.
