In Italy, the Christmas celebrations really get started around 8 December, which is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.  Many towns and cities will have displays of Christmas lights and most will have a presepe, or Christmas nativity scene, which will be in the main square or outside the main church or cathedral.  Naples is the place to see the most amazing variety of presepi and perhaps purchase some traditional handmade figurines to take home as souvenirs.  There are many towns that offer a presepi viventi, or living nativity, where actors perform the roles of the holy family.  It is also common for towns to hold their own Christmas markets, such as the Noel Noel family Christmas fair in Florence, running from late November until early December.  On Christmas Eve, warm yourself by the traditional bonfire that is held in the main square of many towns and then join the locals in the celebration of midnight mass.  Join in the Christmas Eve Vigil at St Peter's Basilica in Rome.  In Abbadia di San Salvatore, you can watch a procession of Christmas torches on Christmas Eve, while in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the torches are carried by skiers and it is amazing to see hundreds of them descend the mountain.  Larger cities, such as Milan, Florence and Rimini, put on a series of concerts, Operas and other live performances over the Christmas and New Year period.

Take advantage of those long Christmas holidays and book a Rentavilla Christmas villa vacation.  Merry Christmas!