Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Santa Claus

Reuters Wires

In Italy this Christmas, Santa Claus swapped his traditional sleigh for more unusual forms of transport, including bicycles, motorbikes and even gondolas as festive parades rolled through city streets and waterways on Sunday (December 21), in the run-up to the holiday season.In Rome, hundreds of Santas on bicycles rode through the city center in the 14th edition of &quot;La Pedalata dei Babbo Natale,&quot; (Santa Claus&#x27; ride) setting off from the Colosseum and pedaling past landmarks including the Vittoriano, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona before reaching Trastevere.The non-competitive ride, open to adults and children alike, ended at the house of the Peter Pan association, a charity that supports families of children undergoing cancer treatment in Rome. Participants made voluntary donations to help provide free accommodation to families forced to relocate for medical care.Also in the Italian capital, the &quot;Rome XMas Parade&quot; saw motorcyclists dressed as Santa Claus ride through the streets on motorbikes, Vespas and Lambrettas, with costumes mandatory for participation.Organizers said the parade aimed to support the So.Spe. association, which assists single mothers, children, adolescents and people affected by violence and poverty, promoting their social and health reintegration.In Venice, festive celebrations took to the water with the 13th edition of the &quot;Regata dei Babbi Natale&quot; (Santa Claus&#x27; regatta) along the Grand Canal. Thirty-two boats, rowed by Santas, raced from the Church of San Zaccaria to Ca’ Foscari University, with prizes awarded for each category and the best-decorated boat.<div>(Production: Veronica Altimari, Manuel Silvestri, Roberto Mignucci, Matteo Negri)</div>

In Italy this Christmas, Santa Claus swapped his traditional sleigh for more unusual forms of transport, including bicycles, motorbikes and even gondolas.

In Italy this Christmas, Santa Claus swapped his traditional sleigh for more unusual forms of transport, including bicycles, motorbikes and even gondolas.

Santa trades sleigh for bicycles, motorbikes and gondolas as Christmas cheer spreads in Italy

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Santa trades sleigh for bicycles, motorbikes and gondolas as Christmas cheer spreads in Italy

Reuters

Published December 22, 2025 01:21 AM PHT

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