A Festive Postcard from Rome

Sunset from the top of the Spanish Steps

Rome is looking pretty festive this year so here a some photos from my scooting around town in the last couple of weeks, please share with anyone you think may be interested! This year the presepe in Piazza San Pietro is a replica of the cave at Greccio in Umbria where eight hundred years ago today St Francis of Assisi directed a live nativity scene.

Many, many thanks to everyone who subscribes to my newsletter, follows me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and of course to all of you who’ve taken tours with me this year. It’s been splendid, and I’m very touched by so much warmly shared enthusiasm for what is (surely) the most enthralling city in the world.

via del Corso

piazza del Popolo

Hotel dei Russia, via del Babuino

More of the Dior tree on the Spanish Steps

Traditional festive coffee pit stop at Caffè Greco, via dei Condotti

Castor (or Pollux?) and the Constitution on the Campidoglio. A pointed comment from the Mayor of Rome.

Festive traffic and St Peter’s. Via Baldo degli Ubaldi.

Piazza San Pietro

That Franciscan presepe, below the pharaonic obelisk. Rome is nothing if not eclectic.

This evening in piazza San Pietro the Christ Child will be placed in the manger, as if by St Francis, eight hundred years to the day since Francis borrowed an Umbrian baby and did exactly that. Regardless of one’s beliefs, or absence thereof, that’s pretty wonderful.

A very happy Christmas to you all, Agnes xx