ItalyUpdate

A wall of magical images, a chorus chanting rituals of the remote past and a soon-to-be-open cafeteria on a panoramic terrace are only some of the innovations introduced to stimulate the imagination and enhance the experience of visitors to the Museo Nazionale Romano inside the ruins of the Baths of Diocletian.

The museum, near Rome's Termini station, occupies a portion of the original 13 hectares of the Baths, built by the Emperor Diocletian between 298 and 306 AD.

The unexpected snowfalls this winter transformed many of the Italy's most beautiful gardens into authentic winter wonderlands, even in areas where snow is a rare event.

The historic Magazzini del Sale (Salt Ware Houses) in Siena (Tuscany) are hosting the 4^th edition of contemporary art until the end of January 2016.  The exhibition A Cavallo dell'Anno which translates as meaning having one foot in the past and the other in the future, concentrates on forerunners of modern art,

Abruzzo and its mountains were virtually unknown as a tourist destination until the early part of last century, when they began to be discovered thanks to the Italian Touring Club (TCI). An exhibition at L'Aquila, entitled Italiani Viaggiatori alla Scoperta dell'Abruzzo (Italian Travellers Discover Abruzzo) sets out to illustrate the important role played by the TCI, which has just celebrated its 120^th anniversary.

Cerveteri, the town north of Rome that was once an important Etruscan settlement, is enjoying a boom in visitors. The crowds have been drawn in thousands over the Christmas holidays to see the famous Crater of Euphonios, a 5^th century BC Greek masterpiece, returned to its rightful home.

The glasses raised to salute the New Year were very likely filled with prosecco, which has now overtaken champagne in popularity, according to the latest wine export figures. During the past year, 307 million bottles of prosecco were sold, compared with the 304 million bottles of French champagne.

Despite the recession, 2015 came in with its usual bang. Strangers hugged and embraced in the piazzas, restaurants and homes. Tables groaned once more with food, with little time to recover from the Christmas binge.

 WITH EVERY GOOD WISH FOR

 A SERENE CHRISTMAS

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

From Italyupdate  

The town of Ariccia, in the Castelli hills near Rome, has produced some of this season's most unusual Christmas trees. The three trees, erected in the main piazza, are entirely composed of recycled materials, such as plastic bottles, old tyres, tin cans and even an old propeller that serves as a cross on the top and whirls around in the wind, catching the rays of the sun.

 The Umbria city of Orvieto, famed for its splendid Cathedral and Etruscan tuffo rock galleries, is set to welcome in the coming New Year with a lively six-day Winter Festival between the 27^th December 2014 - 1^st January 2015.