Christmas at Parco Da Vinci (Christmas markets)

A Christmas village at the gates of Rome

In the municipality of Fiumicino, within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital (Lazio), the Parco Commerciale Da Vinci on Via Geminiano Montanari lights up for the festive season every year. From late November until January 6th, the facility's wide outdoor avenues—the largest of its kind in Italy, spanning over 200,000 square meters with more than 100 shops—become a continuous Christmas trail, complete with lights, music, giant decorations, and roving performances. It has become a highly anticipated event not only for the residents of Fiumicino but for the entire Roman coast and the western districts of the capital.

Seasonal attractions

The heart of the setup is the real ice skating rink, set up outdoors: a rare choice in the Lazio region, where synthetic ice is used almost everywhere, making it one of the features that has made the event so recognizable. Next to the rink, you will find a carousel for children and Santa's cottage, where little ones can drop off their letters, take a souvenir photo, and participate in themed creative workshops.

• Real outdoor ice rink, open until Epiphany
• Santa's House with workshops, letter writing, and meetings with the Befana
• Christmas markets with craft stalls, gift ideas, and local products
• Festive lights and 3D projections along the avenues and facades
• Roving performances, elves, music, and entertainment on weekends

The markets

The Christmas markets consist of small wooden huts set up in the area between the shops and the park's archaeological zone, generally active on weekends and then continuously in the weeks leading up to the holidays. The selection combines crafts, home decorations, gift items, and gastronomic products from the Lazio region: a pleasant stroll, filled with spicy scents and soft lighting, which can easily be combined with shopping in the park's stores.

A program designed for families

Each season has a narrative theme—in recent years, elves have been the stars, with comedy sketches, stories, and characters accompanying visitors along the path. The calendar includes educational workshops in the afternoons on weekdays and in the mornings on weekends, ice shows, meetings with Santa Claus on the Sundays of December, and the farewell of the Befana between January 5th and 6th. All entertainment events are free; only skate rental and access to the rink require a fee, according to the rates posted on-site.

Fiumicino and Christmas on the coast

The event is part of a broader Christmas context: the Municipality of Fiumicino, between the town center, Isola Sacra, and the surrounding hamlets, offers nativity scenes, concerts, and small neighborhood markets during the same period. However, the Parco Da Vinci, due to its size and proximity to the Leonardo da Vinci airport and the Grande Raccordo Anulare, remains the most popular hub, attracting families from Ostia, Acilia, Ladispoli, and Rome. Its open-air format is its distinctive feature: not a closed shopping mall, but a walk through illuminated streets where you can truly experience the Christmas spirit.

Tips for your visit

The busiest times are Saturday and Sunday afternoons in December, particularly around the Immaculate Conception holiday: those traveling with small children should aim for opening hours or the early afternoon. In case of bad weather, outdoor entertainment events may be cancelled, so it is advisable to check the updated program on the park's official channels before setting off.