Lucca at Christmas Time

Lucca twinkles for Christmas

Lucca in the week running up to Christmas becomes the bustling local city it should be, there are few tourists and it is the locals who come in from the surrounding area to find Christmas presents and get into the festive spirit. There has been criticism in the city for the understated decoration but I rather like the simple strands of twinkling lights. I am less sure about the nativity scene in Piazza San Michele that seems to have confounded many of us.

I prefer the traditional presepe or crib

No Christmas City would be complete without a skating ring

Giuliana's handpainted Christmas Baubles 

Enjoy a deep fried "frate", the most delicious light deep fried doughnut

Craft Christmas market

Sweet delicacies to give you energy, a sugar injection for your Christmas shopping

A helping hand from a Penguin

A Christmas Carousel

Babbo Natale gets a ride

 A damigiana bottle is perfect for Christmas

The Antique market was full of unusual presents

Lucia designs beautiful jewels and her shop sparkled for Christmas

Sweets are given to children on 6th of January by Befana (the friendly witch) but the stalls are already up

Father Christmas was in Lucca 

Via Fillungo,  the shopping street, packed with Christmas shoppers

Sweet delights and Marron Glacé, a Christmas luxury

Fun Christmas window

A box of perfume from Elba

Mistletoe 

Wishing everyone a very Happy festive season