News from Italy
Rome has entered the Christmas Globe!
Vita gazette – The Christmas period has officially arrived in Italy. From Milan to Florence, Rome and beyond, the spirit of Christmas made its presence felt. You can feel the Christmas atmosphere among songs and music, including “Tu scendi dalle stelle”.
We begin our magical journey with Rome, the immortal city where the wishes of “Peace” are sent to the whole world.
The Christmas Concert in the Senate
The Christmas Concert in the Senate occurred on Sunday, 10 December, at Palazzo Madama. The protagonists are the Orchestra and Choir of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, directed by maestro Michele Spotti. The traditional Christmas event was held in the presence of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
At the centre of the musical program is a choice of arias from the national operatic repertoire: “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca and “Nessun dorma” from Turandot, both by Puccini and “Una furtive lagrima” from Donizetti’s Elisir d’amore performed by tenor Vittorio Grigolo. As well as “Largo al factotum” from Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia with the voice of the baritone Nicola Alaimo and “Vecchia Zimarra” from Puccini’s Bohème with the bass Roberto Tagliavini. And again, “Casta Diva” from Norma by Bellini with the soprano Anna Pirozzi and “O mio babbino caro” from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini with the soprano Giuliana Gianfaldoni, workhorses of Maria Callas, remembered and celebrated on the centenary of her birth. There will also be two famous pages by Verdi, such as “Va pensiero” from Nabucco and the “Brindisi” from La Traviata sung as a duet by Pirozzi and Grigolo.
From music to literature: For the 150 years since the death of Alessandro Manzoni, the Christmas meeting in the Senate remembered the great writer, poet and playwright by proposing the ending from his masterpiece, the historical novel The Betrothed, in the interpretation of the award-winning actor Sergio Castellitto.
Dressed in traditional sheepskin and woollen cloaks with peaked hats, the zampogna pipers can be seen – and heard – on the streets of Rome over Christmas.
The Christmas tree in Rome
The Christmas tree of Rome’s Capital has been moved to Piazza del Popolo due to the ongoing construction of the Metro C. Precisely because of its location, someone has decided to call it “Spopolacchio ironically” this year. The fir tree is decorated with 600 red and 200 gold bowls and equally golden lights to cover its height, 21 metres, coming from Como. The lighting of the Christmas tree on 8 December symbolically recalls the Italian tradition of putting up a tree in their homes on the day the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is celebrated. But in addition to the tree in Piazza del Popolo, many others can be admired in the city, even in the historic centre, such as the white Christmas tree on the Trinità dei Monti staircase by Maison Dior.
Rome sends out a message for peace
With. the Christmas tree, there was also the switching of the lights in Via del Corso, from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia, with the writing “Peace”. In Via del Corso, the word peace has appeared in all the world’s languages, and a powerful message for peace is being launched from Rome.
The Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square
After a helicopter flight over the expanse of the Albaretto forest in the province of Cuneo, where it was taken, the 27-meter-tall silver fir, with a trunk of around 10 metres, was transported to St Peter’s Square for the Christmas holidays. The tree, a silver fir 27 meters high with a trunk of approximately 10 metres, was taken from the expanse of the Albaretto forest in the Cuneo area. The Municipality of Macra applied in 2015 to donate the Christmas tree and is now fulfilling that dream. After January 6, the tree will be donated to an association that produces toys for children in difficulty. To embellish the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square, there were 7 thousand edelweiss, which will simulate the effect of snow.
A Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square was placed more than 40 years ago, in 1982, and has since become an annual tradition. Last year, the Christmas tree was donated from Abruzzo, with the 62-year-old, 26-metre fir tree taken from the village of Rosello in the province of Chieti.
The nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square
When it began to get dark, the nativity scene was inaugurated in the centre of St. Peter’s Square, and the lights of the giant Christmas tree were turned on to the admiration of those who wanted to be present to enjoy the show first. The inauguration of the nativity scene and the Christmas tree were set up in the centre of the arcade. The call for peace is vital in a time dramatically marked by war. The Gendarmerie Corps Band contributes to the ceremony by performing the anthem of the Vatican City State, that of the Italian Republic and the final song, White Christmas.
The nativity scene is set up as an actual work of art created in Greccio, a village nestled among the rocks at 700 meters above sea level, which aims to revive the one desired by the saint of Assisi. The idea is to propose a theatrical backdrop that seeks to embrace Saint Francis and is, in turn, adopted by the Colonnade and sends an embrace to Pope Francis. The life-size characters are made of painted terracotta mounted on an iron structure covered with period clothing (1200). One hundred three people collaborated in its creation.
Christmas market in Piazza Navona
The Christmas markets are an unmissable event for those who love the holidays. In December, the squares of the historic centre and the suburbs light up; Romans and tourists search for decorations or gifts for friends and relatives, browsing the stalls.
Located in the heart of the immortal city, the beauty of Piazza Navona also stands out during Christmas. It is difficult to understand how time passes between rides, candied apples, cakes, sweets, toys and happy smells. Go to another world with Santa Claus in his sleigh, and dance in that magical world with the carousel spinning accompanied by wonderful Christmas music…
Christmas at Cinecittà World
Do you want to be one of the heroes of the Christmas movie? Then we go to Cinecittà, the magical world.
Let’s put cake on Cinecittà Street, the main street of the Cinecittà World theme park, just outside Rome. And we feel like we have been catapulted onto the set of a film set in New York of times gone by, complete with street lamps and vintage cars.
Cinecittà World, the theme park where cinema, fantasy and games continuously mix, is coloured with red sledges, garlands and letter boxes. Then, of course, there is him, Santa Claus, to whom a unique roller coaster is also dedicated. Decorations, Christmas wreaths, and then Santa’s House to read letters full of wishes.
Christmas at the Laghetto dell’Eur
The Christmas village, located on Lake Eur, has everything to fascinate young and old. Crafts, street food, local foods, drinks, toys, houses and souvenirs await those who love the scent of Christmas.
Christmas at Luneur Park
Visitors can find many attractions in the Christmas village at Luneur Park via delle Tre Fontane all’Eur. In the Garden of Wonders of Rome, among the fantastic creatures such as the gingerbread man Pepe, the giant polar bear Igloo and the elves, it is also possible to find numerous food points set up where delicacies can win you over.
Christmas market in Frascati
Christmas has also arrived in the Castelli Romani with markets, the skating rink and lights. In Frascati, as part of the Christmas Village 2023, you can walk among the traditional stalls in the wooden houses along the Passeggiata del Belvedere, where you can find handicrafts and typical local products, gastronomy and gift items. A horse carousel was positioned there for the children, and the giant Christmas tree in Piazza Roma was decorated and lit. The tourist train departing from Piazza Marconi also began its journey.
Christmas market at Santa Severa Castle
The Castle of Santa Severa will dress up to the nines, accompanying visitors to an evocative village, between reality and fantasy, a fairytale place waiting to be discovered: the Christmas Village. A magical and joyful atmosphere for visitors of all ages, who will be able to immerse themselves in a fantastic journey into the emotions of the holidays through light installations, play and creativity spaces, circus, theatrical and musical shows, artistic and fantasy workshops, street market craftsmanship and local and Christmas products, a food and beverage area and the wonder of walking through the Santa Severa Castle splendidly decorated for the Christmas holidays. Inside the Castle, which overlooks the sea, adults and children can experience the thrill of discovering Santa’s House.
Inside Santa’s House, there will be various environments such as the chocolate waterfall, the toy factory with the shipping of gifts, a glacial forest, Santa’s breakfast room and, finally, the meeting with Santa Claus on his splendid armchair, ready to listen to the wishes of the little ones. The space will be set up with a large throne and host the letterbox for the North Pole, where the little ones can send personalised letters.
Every corner of the room will offer a different experience inspired by traditional settings and scenarios. Santa Claus and his elf helpers will welcome adults and children in a celebration of mysterious anticipation and suspension.
Continuing the tour in the Short Sleeve Room, visitors will find the Casa Della Befana, a magical space where the friendly old lady will meet the children, who will find her intent on preparing socks and sweets.
The Innovation Lab room will host the games laboratory, a space dedicated to creativity, manipulating ceramics, and creative recycling. Boys and girls can create their own Christmas baubles and write their personalised letters, which they can post directly in the mailbox to the North Pole in Santa Claus’s house.
Tolfa, Christmas Craft Markets and Santa Claus Village
In the picturesque medieval village of Tolfa, a few steps from Rome, nestled among rural landscapes, the magic and tradition of Christmas will come to life over the two weekends 08 – 09 – 10 and 16 -17 December 2023 with SANTA CLAUS’ VILLAGE reaching its 10th edition.
The Befana Workshop, Santa’s House, the Gingerman’s House, the Painter Elves, the Santa Claus Gallery, the Storytelling Elves, the Toymaker’s House, the Elves’ Post Office, the Greedy Elves, the Den of the Grinch and Christmas Park.
The Catana (also known as the Tolfetana), the native leather bag for which Tolfa is famous throughout the world, can be purchased in Via Roma n° 75 (Selleria Bartolozzi) and Via Roma n°170 (Pelletteria Vannicola).
