Vacanze di Natale a Lucca, Settignano, Grassina (Bagno a Ripoli) e Firenze centro

salli443
3 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Christmas holidays in Lucca, Settignano, Grassina (Bagno a Ripoli) and central Florence

**Giglio Fiorentino ~ the Symbol of Florence, Italy**

Wandering through town with my iPhone in hand, past festive markets and artisan bakeries like Perbellini in Lucca, filled with pandoros and cantucci, streets sparkling with fairy lights ~ everything feels touched by a quiet, unmistakable magic as the big day draws near. ⭐

This is a selection of photos showcasing the beautiful festive decorations and merchandising throughout Florence, Tuscany this Christmas season. Hope you enjoy.

Here is a bakery shopfront selling quality cakes and bakes in typically stylish Italian wrapping.

An enticingly festive bakery window, in Lucca — **An enticingly festive bakery** **window, in Lucca**

Perbellini is a famous family bakery that has been running for many years ~ through two world wars and the challenges of a global pandemic. Pasticceria Perbellini has its main bakery and headquarters in Bovolone, Verona, Italy, at Via Vittorio Veneto, 46, known for traditional Veronese sweets like the Offella d'oro. They also have a presence in Isola Rizza, Verona, and are associated with Casa Perbellini, a famous restaurant in Verona city.

A company that is over 150 years old, and I wouldn't want to upset the dude in the middle. Luigi Perbellini, was self-employed as a prestinaio, an old definition for the baker. Founded in 1872 — **A company that is over 150 years old, and I wouldn't want to upset the dude in the middle.** **Luigi Perbellini, was self-employed as a** ***prestinaio*, an old definition for the baker.** **Founded in** **1872**

The best selection of chocolates in one Lucca shop window. They really know how to dress windows ❤️

Christmas window of a cioccolateria in Lucca. My favourite is the Venchi Christmas chocolate book box — **Christmas window of a** **cioccolateria** **in Lucca. My favourite is the** ***Venchi*** **Christmas chocolate book box**

Now for something a little different... I had to push my way in front of a guided tour crowd who did not care if anyone else wanted to enjoy this vibrant art installation. (An Ebenezer Scrooge grumpy moment).

**Time for a lite bite, with a ham salad (on turmeric and caraway seed bread) and a gloopy hot chocolate. Daisy had her eyes on the prize, and enjoyed some ham**

My son taking the mickey out of my 'wannabe influencer' ways, which is simply not true 😆

Bronze statue of the opera composer Giacomo Puccini sitting on a chair in Lucca, holding his signature Toscano cigar, with a commemorative carpet of crocheted roses laid in front. An art installation by a local group called "Uncinettine di Porcari" (Crocheters of Porcari), to commemorate the centenary of his death. — **Bronze statue of the opera composer Giacomo Puccini sitting on a chair in Lucca, holding his signature Toscano cigar, with a commemorative carpet of crocheted roses laid in front. An art installation by a local group called** **"Uncinettine di Porcari" (Crocheters of Porcari),** **to commemorate the centenary of his death.**

This is located in Corte San Lorenzo, a small square in the composer's hometown of Lucca, which is a historic Tuscan city known for its well-preserved Renaissance-era city walls. Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924) was a revolutionary Italian composer, the last of a great musical dynasty, renowned as the greatest Italian opera composer after Verdi and a master of the realistic verismo style, famous for emotionally charged operas like La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and the unfinished Turandot, known for his memorable melodies and sophisticated orchestration.

**Crocheted, each and every one of them. Many an espresso was consumed in the process.**

**Cute kid's drawing of our local coffee shop / latteria**

Below is an exquisite Christmas market cheese stand (banco di formaggi), in Lucca.

**Inspiring selection of cheeses & relishes - and surprisingly not busy, but then it was early**

Cheese stalls at Christmas markets in Italy are a feast for the senses, overflowing with the aromas of mature pecorino, creamy gorgonzola and freshly cut taleggio. Vendors offer regional specialties and let you taste test before buying. Truckles of cheese are stacked high and wrapped against the winter chill.

Below is a curious way to display quality wine, ie on top of rubble in a Settignano corner enoteca.

**Offerta Natale 'Christmas Offer' ~ reminds me of the collapsed roof rubble at our rental home**

The chocolate crunchy salami goes down well with a fresh coffee or even a liquor ~ see below.

**In our local Settignano coffee shop they sell traditional Christmas sweets. On the left is candied orange dipped in plain chocolate and on the right is the 'MAJANI FETTA DI SALAME DI CIOCCOLATO' - yum**

For scorze d'arancia candite, candied peel, enjoy a strong Italian coffee or a dessert wine (Vin Santo, Passito). Sweet liqueurs like Amaretto and Limoncello or rich digestifs like Fernet-Branca or Averna, will also complement the bitter orange and dark chocolate. Or, you can stuff a chocolate salami...

Salami di cioccolato (Chocolate Salami) is a no-bake, sweet dessert resembling actual salami, made from a rich mixture of chocolate, butter, sugar, and crunchy broken biscuits (cookies), often with additions like nuts (hazelnuts, almonds), cocoa powder, and sometimes alcohol (rum, port), creating a dense, sliceable log dusted with powdered sugar. Click for Recipe

**Front gate looking festive with a (simple) lush Christmas pine branch and ribbon**

Forever stopping to snap the best Christmas wreaths and garlands about the village of Settignano.

**Love this shop window, barely any red and white - lots of silver, gold, wood and rouge**

**Church of San Michele Arcahngelo, Grassina**

We headed to Grassina Christmas market in Bagno a Ripoli and caught sight of a minimalist nativity barn outside the Church of San Michele a Tegolaia (also known as San Michele Arcangelo a Grassina). Italian nativity scenes, or presepi, typically do include the Baby Jesus, but He isn't placed in the manger until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, creating anticipation, with the empty manger symbolising waiting for the miracle of birth, reflecting tradition and started by St. Francis.

**Quite minimalist imho, so I ran it through ChatGPT to add to it**

Here's the A.I. embellished version, and I placed Baby Jesus in prematurely (sorry St Francis) but Mary didn't look pregnant and they wouldn't be in the barn until his birth, would they? Also, the three magi, sheperds and livestock look awesome. Plus, the A.I. removed that crappy cloth from the top right.

**Full house! Really love the Magi gifts (for health & prosperity). Frankincense and Myrrh being super good for you**

Plenty of space to kickback and enioy this Grassina restaurant. Al fresco dining all the way.

**An Impruneta market restaurant, beautiful setting in the crisp winter sun and outdoor comfort**

**Wonky Christmas tree outside the Grassina church**

Here's a cosy place in central Florence looking sparkly, Caffè Leitta Coffee shop serving Breakfast, lunch, aperitivo, and more. #CaffeLietta Open Monday-Saturday, Piazza della Libertà 6-7-8R.

Found them on instagram ~ and a beautifully simple seasonal flower arrangement they created:

Meet the theatrical 'Bishop of Fiesole', he's flamboyant and sassy!

**A statue of Saint Donatus on the facade of the Church of Santi Paolino e Donato in Lucca. Saint Donatus was an Irish teacher and poet and later became the Bishop of Fiesole**

**A sleepy Impruneta handicrafts market, except everyone was having lunch when we arrived. Had to wait a lifetime for stall owners to return, worth it though**

Doesn't get more Christmassy than this. Yet another Lucca shopfront

**I think baby Jesus features in this nativity, in 2D (Lucca)**

**Nonna-style basket wrapping for 'Cantuccini Artigianoli 2 Pacchi €10.00 ' Handmade Cantuccini Two Packs €10.00**

Cantuccini, or Biscotti di Prato, have ancient roots in Tuscany, evolving from hard and savoury Roman soldier snacks ("cantellus") to sweet treats for pilgrims and the Medici court. It become famous in the Renaissance and was standardised by baker Antonio Mattei in the 19th century ~ with almonds and pine nuts, earning Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status as Cantuccini Toscani for their rich history as portable, dunkable biscuits.