Many will take advantage of the Immaculate Conception to spend a weekend in a European city or to visit the Christmas markets, scattered everywhere in Italy and abroad. But even those who decided to spend these three days in Rome – and those who live in the capital of Italy and chose not to leave for this long weekend – will have the opportunity to spend pleasant days, including art, culture and shopping in the eternal city.
The many events organized in the capital in these days will allow those who will spend the first December bridge to discover the works of famous painters, to immerse themselves in the world of books, to visit cribs from all over the world but also to listen to good music.
Here are some tips on what to do in Rome to spend a weekend of the Immaculate in a pleasant and original way.
1 – More free books – Fair of small and medium publishing
From 6 to 10 December at the Rome Convention Center – La Nuvola dell’Eur, the books will be the protagonists of the sixteenth edition of the Small and Medium Publishing Fair . About 500 publishers will propose their publications to visitors.
The program of the event – which for the first time leaves the Congress Center, its historic home, to move to the structure designed by architect Massimiliano Fuksas – is rich initiatives suitable for readers of all ages. In fact, there will be a space dedicated to young people, with workshops, exhibitions and collective readings. On the other hand, the greatest will be to choose the themes that they prefer: in the spaces of the Nuvola di Fuksas, in fact, we will talk – among other things – of graphic novels, science and literature in all its forms. Some events will be dedicated to the fight against organized crime, the stories of migrants and politics. Among the guests of the four days dedicated to the book the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso, the Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini and the former Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
2 – Christmas markets in Piazza Navona
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Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful places in the eternal city; for years during the Christmas period it is filled with lights, colors and stalls. It is an event that in the past has provoked controversy , but that is eagerly awaited by those who love to wander among the Christmas stands in an exceptional setting. This year the markets should have been set up on December 2, due to organizational problems related to the new safety regulations, however, their opening has been postponed for a few days.
Until the Epiphany, however, in the wonderful square of the center of the capital you will breathe a party atmosphere, which will make happy especially the little ones.
3 – The “100 cribs” from all over the world
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Also this year in Rome will be exhibited – for the 42nd time – cribs made by artisans from every corner of the planet. Despite the name of the initiative , this year there are 152 cribs on show, coming from 41 different countries. Many of these are handmade.
Among the various works exhibited at the Sale del Bramante in Piazza del Popolo there is also a nativity scene against violence against women, created by the Villa Maraini Foundation. To welcome visitors a 3D hologram: the three-dimensional image of the actor Guido Saudelli tells the story and peculiarities of the exhibition.
Those who love the art of the nativity scene, after a tour of the Sale del Bramante, can take the opportunity to move to the other side of the city and visit the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions located in one of the palaces of piazza Marconi, in the Eur and preserves two beautiful cribs from the 1700s.
