Speakers: Chiara Sulli, Context Expert since 2014
Chiara Sulli: Ciao! And a warm welcome to Rome. I'm Chiara, I'm a native Roman, a private chef, and a guide at Context. Today I would like to talk to you about the Christmas atmosphere in Rome and our traditions. Rome is wonderful all year round, but I just love December.
Chiara Sulli: One of the main traditions when it comes to Christmas in Italy are the presepe which are an amazing representation of the nativity scene. Italy is famous worldwide for those and any church in Italy will have its own nativity. Some are very old and precious. There is an especially stunning and famous one in Rome at the Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano. This is a must in my Christmas tours around the city, it's very, very beautiful. Some nativities have a modern twist, others are more classic.
Chiara Sulli: Strolling from church to church in Rome, we also usually stop by tiny shops – places where I used to go with my Grandpa and where you can taste special delicacies, like hot chocolate, roasted chestnut, and of course much more. Another Christmas landmark in Rome is the fair in Piazza Navona, which is one of the most famous squares in Rome. At Christmas, the square turns into a child's dream. You can find a merry go round and stalls that sell Christmas sweets and Christmas items made by local artisans, especially for the Christmas tree and for the nativity. Sometimes if you're lucky you can still meet bagpipe players that come downtown from the mountains and stroll around Rome with their bagpipes – which in Italian are called zampogna.
Chiara Sulli: So many, many wishes to all of you. I hope to welcome you in my city, the best city in the world. You're gonna love it.
