Winter can be a good time to visit Italy if you don’t mind the cold, and possibly snowy, weather. You can often find lower air fares and get off-season hotel prices (except Christmas through January 6 in Rome, on New Year’s Eve, or Carnevale season in Venice) and there are fewer tourists so most sites and museums are less crowded. Of course if you’re looking for a skiing or winter sports vacation in the mountains, winter is the time to go.

See Christmas Markets and Nativities
Christmas markets can be found in many parts of Italy, usually staring around December 8 and continuing through January 6, Epiphany. Markets range from small, village markets held on weekends to big daily markets with children’s activities, special events, and even visits with Saint Nick or Babbo Natale. Some of the best are in the northern region of Trentino-Alto Adige and the city of Trieste where there’s a big Austrian and German influence.