In Milan, the Christmas tree is not only a symbol of the holidays. Every year the lighting of the big fir tree in Piazza Duomo marks the official start of Christmas in the city. The tradition of the Christmas tree, decorated with lights and balls, originated in Northern European countries and spread to Italy in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, until it became an ever-present decoration in our homes and in the most important squares.
The one in Piazza Duomo is certainly the most symbolic for the city, although for some time now there seems to be a sort of “undeclared competition” as to who makes the brightest, most scenic and Instagrammable tree in Milan, especially in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which this year is entrusted to a new sponsor that has nothing to do with luxury.
When do they light the Christmas tree in Piazza Duomo?
The city’s most famous Christmas tree will be decorated with decorations inspired by the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, scheduled for 2026. In the center of the square, right in front of the huge Gothic cathedral, the Games Tree will sport mainly white decorations, with details that refer to the “5 vibes” of the Olympic Games, as well as more than 100,000 microleds. The lights, will be turned on this Saturday , Dec. 6 by 6 p.m. (we recommend arriving earlier, around 5 p.m.).
The tip and base of the tree, on the other hand, will be reused from past years, thus winking at a more sustainable Christmas. Once the holidays are over, the chosen fir tree, which is 29 meters tall and comes from Val di Sole, in the mountains of Trentino, will also be transformed. Its trunk will become wooden planks and boards, which a will be donated to the social carpentry workshop of the Monza Prison.
Christmas trees in Milan
In the Galleria, Piazza San Babila and Gae Aulenti, Christmas trees are everywhere in the city. In Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, no Gucci or Dior. This year’s Christmas tree is signed Lenovo, classic in shape but with a hi-tech soul, thanks to a cascade of lights on which bright and colorful sequences alternate. In CityLife, among the skyscrapers of Milan’s most “in” neighborhood, the Lego tree pops up, which children will love.
A few steps behind the Duomo, in Piazza San Babila, the L’Oréal Paris tree shines with a glamorous touch, in perfect Milanese style. Finally, staying on the luxury theme, on Via della Spiga is the Ralph Lauren tree, with classic decorations, golden balls and warm lights that illuminate it from top to bottom, in full “old money” style.