Christmas in Venice

Obviously due to Covid this year is very particular but these are ideas and tips for a future Christmas in Venice

A wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve is to attend midnight mass at St. Mark's Basilica. But remember, midnight mass starts at 10:30 p.m. and you should get there early to get a seat (no tickets are needed). Try to enter through the north entrance and not the west entrance often used by tourists.

Even though December 26th is a national holiday (St. Stephen's Day), most of Venice's museums and sites will be open.

Several Venice restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and even on the 23rd and 26th. Most hotel restaurants and Harry's Bar are open. Be sure to do your homework and make reservations ahead of time for Christmas meals. We hear Caffe Quadri and the restaurant - Piazza San Marco's famous cafe - is open on Christmas Day. Good place for Christmas breakfast and coffee!

Remember that the vaparetto schedule changes on major holidays. Check the signs posted on the platforms for schedule information.

Each year on December 26, the Frari Church in San Polo (in the Campo dei Frari) offers a free concert at 4:00 p.m. The church is filled with magnificent art, including Titian's Assumption of the Virgin, Canova's Tomb and a carved monk's chair from 1468.

For an incredible seafood dinner and a warm celebration at midnight, go to Trattoria Antiche Carampane on New Year's Eve. (San Polo 1911; (39) 041 524-0165) The price for dinner runs about £70 per person. No matter where you go that night, you must make reservations.

Another restaurant recommendation: Antica Trattoria Poste Vecie (Rialto Pescheria Venezia; (39-041-721-1822) is open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. This restaurant also has excellent fish and a larger menu as well. The soups and Venetian-style calf's liver are terrific. Fireplaces keep the restaurant warm on cold nights.

If you're in Venice on January 6, don't miss the Befana races. Men clad in long skirts, wigs and babushkas climb into boats for races on the Grand Canal. The best views are from the Rialto Bridge.

Venezia in Bianco e Nero (Venice in Black and White)

During the last week, I published a new Photo Zine:

Venezia in Bianco e Nero (Venice in Black and White)

I believe or at least I think to remember that the first time I ever saw as a kid San Marco was when it was completely empty and to me, it was in Black and White. It was simply magical.Because Venice in Black and White just feels right!

ASIN : B08QR4YYH8

• Publisher : Independently published (December 13, 2020)

• Language: : English

• Paperback : 52 pages

• ISBN-13 : 979-8573953397

• Item Weight : 4.2 ounces

• Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.13 x 8.5 inches

It is now available on all Amazon Marketplaces to maintain a free or very low shipping costs

You can easily find it on

• Amazon.com here,

• Amazon.co.uk here

• Amazon.de here

  Or search for your local Amazon Marketplace to save on shipping!

If you prefer to order a high-quality print directly from me you will get a

• Silk Paper

• 170gr

• Real Black

Can be ordered at Euro 15 here

Christmas in Ljubljana 2019

Feel the vibrancy and cheerful atmosphere of festive Ljubljana at the Christmas markets held in its historic city centre.

Event is part of the festival Festive December in Ljubljana

Warm yourself up with a cup of mulled wine or aromatic tea and browse the green stalls to find some gifts for your loved ones. The Christmas markets are accompanied by a programme of festive events held daily in the nearby streets and squares throughout December.

This year, the Christmas markets are held at six locations, namely at the Breg embankment, Gallusovo nabrežje embankment, Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment, Kongresni trg Square, Prešernov trg Square and at the Petkovškovo nabrežje embankment. They are offering fashion accessories, products by Slovenian designers, headwear, gloves, scarves and other things to keep us warm on cold winter days, arts and crafts items, various Slovenian culinary products, desserts, honey, schnapps and festive souvenirs.

They are accompanied by catering stalls, scattered all over the city centre, offering mulled wine, warm tea, liqueurs, sausages, various grilled dishes and other foods.

Gift program:

Breg and Petkovškovo embankment

10.00 - 22.00, Friday and Saturday until 23.00, 24. 12. 2019 and 31. 12. 2019 until 18.00

Catering stalls:

Breg embankment

Working hours of small stalls: 10.00 - 23.00 (24. 12. 2019 and 31. 12. 2019 until 18.00)

Working hours of big stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Cankarjevo nabrežje embankment

Working hours of small stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Working hours of big stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Prešernov trg Square

Working hours of big stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 untill 3.00)

Kongresni trg Square

Working hours of small stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Working hours of big stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Gallusovo nabrežje embankment

Working hours of big stalls: 10.00 - 24.00 (24. 12. 2019 / 25. 12. 2019 until 01.00 and 31. 12. 2019 / 1. 1. 2020 until 3.00)

Christmas in Zagreb - Croatia

Advent in Zagreb 

Zagreb, the Croatian capital, is beautiful year-round, but during the Advent it looks its best. Christmas trees, lights, decorations, delicious foods and beverages, along with joyful holiday goodness made Zagreb one of the best Christmas destinations in 2015 and due to the festive and welcoming atmosphere, it was also named Best Christmas Market 2015. Along with the festive, holiday mood, there are many activities that bring the Christmas spirit to Zagreb.

Advent on the Main Square

Surprise and suspense fill the air as the Advent calendar comes to life in Zagreb's main square. Visitors enjoy the holiday spirit and take part in festive events including readings, concerts, lectures, workshops, performances, exhibitions, and light installations.

Advent on Zrinjevac

The city's old music pavilion welcomes visitors to dance, sing, eat, shop, and enjoy their time amongst the cheerful decorations and jovial atmosphere. Talented artists make their beautiful, unique ornaments and souvenirs available. Hungry visitor can choose from many delicious Zagreb specialties, including fried apples, cabbage clothes, baked štrukle, as well as mulled wine and hot chocolate. Music fills the air, too. Waltzes, Christmas classics, and other musical treats are enjoyed by all.

 

Ban Josip Jelačić Square

Situated at the city's main square, the open air stage hosts many unique festivities, including concerts, children's performances, and cultural and art events.

Christmas Fair

Surrounding Jelačić Square, Zagreb's artists and craftsmen offer traditional Croatian products. Shoppers are able to choose from colorful decorations, gingerbread hearts, cookies, jewelry, souvenirs, and a plethora of seasonal gifts.

Ice Park

Just like a Christmas fairy tale, the ice skating rink is home to skating, delicious foods and beverages, and joyful music events.

The Advent in Zagreb is a special event that is not to be missed. Join in as visitors stroll the city streets and sing, dance, eat, shop, and enjoy the festive entertainment in Croatia's capital city.

Not to be Missed

• A glass of Medica will put you in a good mood straight away.  Its Rakija made out of honey and spiced with propolis. Medica is a devil in disguise. It's sweet, flows smoothly, and once you get going you don’t really stop until it’s too late. It has a certain jet lag effect as it can kick you long after you had your last one. 
• Fritule  are aromatic bite-sized dough balls, flavoured with lemon and orange zest, grape brandy  and/or dark rum, and sprinkled with icing sugar or covered with chocolate. Like almost any home will have its bowl, there is probably no housewife, especially among older women, that doesn't have her own recipe, the best in the world!

This post has not been sponsored and I did not get media samples or freebies. For more information, check out my full disclaimer policy.