Deck the hall: cities around the world transformed by festive lights - in pictures

Before and after: take a look at public buildings and squares around the world decorated with holiday lights after a hard year due to the coronavirus pandemic

Trafalgar Square is seen empty on November 5, 2020. Peter Summers/Getty Images

The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, London, on December 3. Paul Brown/Shutterstock

The Vittoriano palace in Piazza Venezia in Rome in March. Matteo Nardone/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

The Spelacchio Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia, Rome, on December 8. EPA

Radio City Music Hall during the coronavirus pandemic on April 20, 2020. Cindy Ord/Getty Images/AFP

Christmas decorations are seen along 6th Avenue. Reuters

People drive their cars on the Champs-Elysee avenue in Paris, on October 30. AFP

The Arc de Triomphe glows at the end of the Champs-Elysee with the Christmas lights lining Paris' famous avenue. Getty Images

The empty Marienplatz with the Townhall of Munich in the background on March 31. Getty Images

People walk past a Christmas tree as they do some shopping at the Marienplatz square in Munich on December 15. EPA

A general view of a nearly empty Piazza Duomo in Milan, Italy on November 6. Getty Images

The Christmas tree is illuminated at the Piazza Duomo on December 10. EPA

St Stephen's Basilica in Budapest on September 27. Paul Lakatos/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

A Christmas tree stands on the square in front of St Stephen Basilica in Budapest on December 8. EPA

An empty Old Town Square in Warsaw, Poland, on October 28. Tomasz Gzell/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Christmas decorations and illuminations on December 13, 2020 in Warsaw, Poland. Tomasz Jastrzebowski / Shutterstock

People walk on an almost empty Kleber square in Strasbourg, eastern France, on October 24, 2020,. AFP

Pedestrians look at the giant Christmas tree on the main square in Strasbourg on November 27, 2020. AFP

The Landhausplatz landmark square in Innsbruck, Austria on March 15. AFP

People pass by the Christmas illuminations in Innsbruck on December 15. Reuters

Manila Cathedral in the Philippines on April 10. EPA

Manila Cathedral is lit up for mass on December 16. EPA

The empty Syntagma square in Athens on October 23. AFP

Syntagma Square decorated for Christmas in Athens on December 15. EPA

The General view of The Churchill Arms public house in Kensington on June 12. Shutterstock

Christmas trees and fairy lights adorn the exterior of the Churchill Arms pub on December 15. Getty Images

A woman sits on the steps of Lobnoye mesto (the ancient place of execution) at Red square in downtown Moscow on September 17, 2020. AFP

People walk near huge light sculptures of polar bears installed as part of decoration for the New Year and Christmas holidays in Moscow. EPA

Many nations will see a muted Christmas this year as restrictions on visiting friends and relatives abound.

But cities around the world are bringing the festive spirit nonetheless, with brilliant sparkling displays of lights.

Take a look at our gallery to see cities before and after their decorations were unveiled.

More on Christmas:

Inside the Dubai home with a snowmaker and candy cane backyard

Quranic verses and Christmas lights: my multifaith family's holidays

As a Papal visit approaches, Iraqi Christians still worry for their safety