IN Italy, Christmas is celebrated here with such tenacity because this is where the headquarters of Catholicism is located. Catholicism, we can surmise, is the oldest of all Christian religions and it commands a large following across the globe. Therefore, it is impressive that its headquarters is located here. What’s more, Italy is the only country in the world which hosts another country. That country happens to be the headquarters of Catholicism and it is called the Vatican City. It is also the smallest country in the world.

Italy also holds a number of legacies aside from this one. The city of Venice for one is the only pedestrian city in the world because no motor vehicles are allowed inside. Outside the Venetian city gates is the world’s largest parking area but it is so organized that there has never been an incident of carjacking or even lost vehicles in this area. The city of Venice is also known for being the only city in the world that is sitting on a lagoon. A testament to this is that most city streets are flooded at certain times of the day but everything is, again, in order because of all systems that are in place. And again, no panic or even lost of limb has ensued because of these flooding. It is a normal part of Venetian life after all.

For Christmas in Italy, Italians start the celebration with the Advent even in such notorious places as Sicily where there is a report on the existence of mafias. Even the mafias reportedly go to church regularly but they are harmless people. In fact, they are reportedly the most prolific benefactors of the parishes here in Italy. But having the mafia aside, you as a tourist can also contribute to the offerings in the holy mass if you’re Catholic. It’s nice to hear a mass in Italian after all.

Italian is a Romance language but it also has Latin influences in it ever since the empire of Rome has embraced Catholicism in the medieval times. Rome has been in existence way before the birth of Christ and ruins of old Rome are still found in Italy. Thus, it is a tourist magnet all year round even during winter. During winter and for the rest of the Christmas season, Rome is cold during winter with temperatures reaching as down as -3 degree Celsius. This is especially true in the Italian Alps where people come here not for the masses or for the religious activities but having a nice time skiing. Skiing is often associated with the French Alps and the Swiss Alps but the Italian side of it has slowly been catching up. The Italian government is currently intensifying in luring investors to construct various skiing resorts and skiing schools and even havens for non-skiing patrons like casinos and man-made golf courses near the Italian Alps.

But if you want to sit back and relax during the holiday season, then go to the Mediterranean coastlines in Italy. It’s a little bit warmer in here.

ITALY is host to the Vatican City, the headquarters of Catholicism. Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in the world and Christmas of course is the most colorful celebration of the year. It expands from Advent which starts four weeks before December 25 and ends on the second Sunday of January which is the Feast of Epiphany. During Christmas at the Vatican City, there are masses but the most climactic of them all occurs during the eve of December 24 at St. Peter’s Square where Pope Benedict XVI himself delivers homily.

Aside from that, in churches all over Italy particularly in the parishes, a prominent family stands each week during Advent to sponsor the Advent candle. The family will together light the candle and place it in a wreath at the front of the church where it remains lighted every mass until December 25. Also during this period, priests are exhorted to wear the purple garment which is symbolic of Advent or preparation for the birth anniversary of the Messiah.

Then nine dawns before Christmas Eve, people are waking up every morning to hear mass at 4 a.m. These masses are said to contemplate and complete the pre-Christmas vigil. Temperatures here in Italy particularly in Rome, Milan and Florence, tend to be at -3 degrees Celsius during that time or even lower than that so people here must be wearing layers and layers of clothing in enduring the whole morning mass. Just make sure that if you’re a visitor here, you wear what the locals are wearing so you can overcome the cold.

Visitors here usually have their own vacation homes to rent during Christmas. It is advisable to book vacation homes ahead before you come on vacation here before they become to be filled up. To do this, you need to have a visa to come here if you come outside Europe. There are reputable travel agencies online which can assist you if you need help in securing reservations for vacation homes here. Among these travel agencies are Expedia and Travelocity. They have 24-hour staff that can help you every way they can wherever time zone you are located in, whether you’re in North America or Europe or even Mexico or Israel.

Never doubt the number of people who come here every Christmas because there are Catholics all over the world from Africa to Tonga, from Alaska to Greenland. Each year, each of these countries and territories send contingents to hear mass at St. Peter’s Square at Christmas Eve. That’s why people in Italy are eager to welcome them every Christmas because tourism will surely be boosted in this city. Anyway, people here, particularly the children, also do caroling during Christmas just like they do the rest of the world. But they particularly target vacation homes such as the ones near the Mediterranean areas because they know that foreign tourists are generous to Italian kids during Christmas time. Italian kids are as sweet as ever not just during caroling season but all throughout the year and it is this virtue that foreigners admire the most.

ITALY is located in the Italian Peninsula and its mainland is bound by the alpine regions of France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Naturally, Italy is a tourist magnet because of its proximity to the Alps now that winter is approaching. As everyone knows, the Alps are abundant of winter sports. Added to that is Italy being a signatory to the Schengen agreement along with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. This means European citizens crossing through these land borders don’t need their documents, luggage and themselves to be checked. Given these factors, there really lots of tourists in Italy. That’s on top of a lot of reasons they simply can’t fit this article. Number one, Italy is home to the world’s most powerful civilization after Christ’s death, Rome. Number two, Italy is home to the world’s smallest nation at the same time, one of the world’s compelling religions, Vatican City. Number three, the people in Italy are said to be friendly, humble, unassuming and simple people. Everybody from New Jersey to Dubai can attest to that whenever they meet Italians there. Number four, Italy is home to the world’s only pedestrian city at the same time, the world’s only city sitting on top of a lagoon – Venice. Outside Venice, you can find the world’s largest parking lot where one’s vehicles are parked whenever one gets inside for business or pleasure. Number three, it is in Milan where fashion is at its zenith and where the world’s best fashion designers are found. Names such as Giancarlo Ferre and Donatella Versace ring a bell. Number four, Italy is also home to hot car brands such as Lamborghini and Ferrari. Number five, Italy is home to fine Italian wine and lasagna and tiramisu, which are included in one of the world’s most famous gastronomic delight, the Italian cuisine. Or simply bask in the Tuscany sun as they say.

To get to Italy, one can arrive via the international airports located in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Naples, Pisa, Venice and Turin. One can also arrive by train from Paris, Nice, Lyon, Zagreb, Vienna, Geneva and a few other cities from Switzerland, Munich, Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana and Barcelona. There are also daily ferries coming from Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Corsica, Sicily, Tangiers and Algiers.

Upon arriving here in Italy, one can surely indulge seeing some of the museums here which are considered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After all, the Italians treasure their artifacts that much because they belong to a civilization which has its roots long before their God, Christ, were born. A few of the museums are the Roman Civilization Museum in Rome itself, the Uffizi Museum in Florence, the Egyptian Museum in Turin which is actually the largest Egyptian museum outside Egypt, the Aquarium in Genoa, and the National Cinema Museum and the Automobile Museum, both located in Turin. Interestingly enough, Milan is not just known for its robust fashion industry. It is also home to the Science and Technology Museum which is basically a collection of unique vehicles. A submarine is even displayed there.