It’s that time of year where everyone’s looking forward to Christmas markets and their mulled wine, handmade gifts, hot chocolate and twinkling lights.
Lots of cities jump immediately to mind – Bruges, London, Berlin, Paris and many more.
But sometimes, it’s the quiet, undiscovered gems that have the true festive magic.
A bit further off the beaten track, half an hour from Rome, an Italian town has a special feel at this time of year.
Its underrated festive market has all the best of the Italian festive season – with fewer crowds and queues.
Arezzo, a tiny Tuscan town with Italy’s biggest Tyrolean-style Christmas market, is full of character and makes for a great alternative to busier cities.
What’s more, it can be reached by a special Christmas train straight from Rome.
Travel company First Choice’s booking data shows that destinations such Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland continue to top the list for city breaks at this time of year.
Arezzo, a tiny Tuscan town with Italy’s biggest Tyrolean-style Christmas market, is full of character and makes for a great alternative to busier cities
But Arezzo could be an even better option – complete with handcrafted gifts, wooden stalls, twinkling lights and steaming mugs of glühwein (mulled wine).
This year, the festive feeling has a new exciting twist.
You can now travel directly to Arezzo via a limited-edition Christmas train that runs from Rome directly to Arezzo during the festive period.
With carriages decked out in seasonal décor, festive music and even gifts handed out to passengers, it turns a simple day trip into an immersive experience.
The return ticket costs just €62 (£54), making Arezzo a perfect option for a short winter getaway.
Travellers don’t need to stay in Arezzo to enjoy the experience. In fact, the smart move is to base the trip in Rome.
‘Rome might not be the first place you think of for a Christmas break, but that’s exactly what makes it such a smart choice,’ says Kevin Nelson, Managing Director at First Choice.
He adds: ‘Pairing the city’s festive charm with a proper Alpine-style market in Arezzo gives you two authentic experiences for the price of one – it’s the ultimate festive hack.’
You can now travel directly to Arezzo via a limited-edition Christmas train that runs from Rome directly to Arezzo during the festive period
The Christmas train is called The Espresso Assisi: Christmas Markets Edition.
It will run journeys between November 30 and January 11, every Sunday.
The route goes from Rome, with stops in Terni, Spoleto, Foligno, Spello, Assisi, Perugia, all the way to Arezzo.
There will be a bar available in the dining car.
