Discover the Tuffo nel Tevere, Rome’s New Year’s Day tradition where daring locals dive into the Tiber to welcome the new year with a playful spirit.

New Year’s Day in Rome and the Plunge into the Tiber

Pretty much everywhere, the new year starts with quiet streets and late breakfasts. That’s not the case in Rome, where an 80-year-old tradition breaks the calm every 1 January: the Tuffo nel Tevere, the plunge into the Tiber River.

At midday, a small group of intrepid divers gathers onPonte Cavour and, one by one, dives into the icy waters below. It’s a brief moment, but it draws a cheerful crowd every year and marks the start of the year for many Romans.

Panettone or Pandoro? Discover the story, traditions and rivalry behind Italy’s two iconic Christmas cakes, and find out which one Italians love most.

Panettone or Pandoro? Italy’s Christmas dessert debate

Panettone or pandoro? It’s one of the questions you’re most likely to be asked if you happen to be in Italy around Christmas. Few things divide Italians into opposing camps quite like this. It’s a bit like choosing between still or sparkling water, flat wine or bubbles, milk chocolate or dark chocolate, Inter or Juventus.

Learn how Christmas Eve dinner is celebrated in Italy, from La Vigilia traditions and regional food to practical tips for travelers visiting on December 24.

Christmas Eve Dinner in Italy: food, family and tradition

In Italy, Christmas starts the evening before December 25, with Christmas Eve dinner, known as La Vigilia: a long, unhurried meal that brings families together around the table across the entire country, as they wait for Christmas to officially begin.

Discover Santa Lucia in Sicily, one of the island’s biggest December festivals. Learn about the traditions, processions in Syracuse and the unique food customs linked to the saint.

On 13 December, the island of Sicily celebrates Santa Lucia, one of its most beloved saints, with a festival deeply rooted in local traditions. Even for those who are not religious, the Festival of Santa Lucia is a powerful cultural experience.

Nowhere is the celebration more intense than in Syracuse (Siracusa), where Santa Lucia was born and where her presence is still strongly felt today. For visitors traveling through Sicily in winter, Santa Lucia offers a rare chance to witness a living tradition that goes far beyond a single religious ceremony.

A full guide to Christmas in Rome and Vatican City: festive lights, nativity scenes, markets and how to attend Vatican Christmas Mass.

Christmas in Rome and Vatican City: a complete guide to the holiday season

Christmas is one of the best times to experience Rome and Vatican City. From early December until the feast of the Epiphany on 6 January, the city fills with nativity scenes, concerts, religious celebrations, Christmas markets and long evening walks under festive lights.

Discover the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Rome at the Altare della Patria, learn its story, and find out how to visit this WWI memorial in Piazza Venezia, Rome.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Rome: what it is and where to find it

If you’ve ever visited Piazza Venezia in Rome, you’ve surely noticed the enormous white monument dominating the square. This is the Vittoriano, built between 1885 and 1935 to honor Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy.

If you look closely, right at the center of the Altare della Patria, under the statue of the goddess Roma, you’ll see a small shrine marked with the Latin words “IGNOTO MILITI” beneath a laurel wreath.

That is where the Milite Ignoto, the unknown Italian soldier, rests in Rome.