Each year, Christmas in Umbria offers visitors a special mix of tradition and innovation. This is where St. Francis created the first nativity scene, but also home to the "largest Christmas tree in the world", a light spectacle on Mt. Ingino that requires 8,500 metres of electrical cables.
In light of the climate of tension and fear following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, a peaceful holiday has become ever more valuable.
"Historically our region is one of peace, tranquillity and spirituality, and now this message becomes even more important," said Deputy Governor of Umbria and Councillor for Tourism Fabio Paparelli.
"Also, after Rome, we're the city that's most involved in the Jubilee, with our great saints from Francis to Rita, with our churches and convents and our beautiful spiritual itineraries," Paparelli said.
Antonella Tiranti, director of tourism for the Region of Umbria, said the region is working to increase public awareness of what Umbria has to offer.
"A journalist years ago said to me, 'Umbria is so beautiful but you keep it all to yourself,'" Tiranti said.
"Well, fighting against this, our natural reluctance and reserve, we're going on the attack with a campaign in the press, radio and online called 'At Christmas Give Yourself Umbria' to allow these places to be discovered and experienced".
Tiranti said the region's tourists come from four main Italian cities: Milan, Bologna, Rome and Naples; and from three main foreign countries: Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
The heart of the Jubilee festivities is the region's capital, Perugia, where on December 13 the Holy Door will be opened at the Cathedral of San Lorenzo.
Meanwhile, the scent of fir trees and cinnamon wafts through the air as the Christmas markets take place in the historic centre, and the nativity scenes are set up in places like the Loggia di Braccio Fortebraccio or the living nativity scene in the underground area of San Domenico church.
Not far from there is the "Nativity in Orvieto", a circuit of 22 artistic, artisanal and traditional nativity scenes set up in basements and churches throughout the city's historic centre and nearby towns.
Starting on December 23 in Orvieto there's also the 27th Nativity in the Well, an nativity with life-sized figures set up in the well of a large Etruscan cave. In Città del Castello there's the 16th International Nativity Art Show with 200 exhibitors.
In Amelia, the cathedral hosts a permanent nativity scene made by artist Carlo Chiappafreddo, while at the St. Annunciata convent, there is also the nativity created by Spaniard Juan Maria Oliva, visible year-round. In Città della Pieve, in the underground of the Palazzo della Corgna, there's a giant nativity scene that's part of a tradition passed down for more than 30 years.
In Massa Martana on December 24, a unique nativity scene made of ice will be on display, this year dedicated to Blessed Maria Josefa Alhama y Valera, a Spanish nun who died in 1983 in the Umbrian town of Collevalenza and was beatified last year.
In Assisi, nativity scenes will be everywhere, from the historic centre to the outskirts, but the one to absolutely not miss is "All of the Nativity Scenes of the World" in the small Porziuncola chapel within the church in Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Another wonder is the nativity scene at St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, with life-size terracotta figures.
In Gubbio on the slopes of Mt. Ignino the "largest Christmas tree in the world" is back this year, with more than 300 light sources.
In Miranda, near Terni, there's an enormous shooting star, 105 metres in diameter, with a 350-metre tail, for an overall surface area of 30,000 square metres, making it the largest in the world of its kind.
Another traditional Christmas display takes place in the Valnerina valley to celebrate the Feast of the Translation, which marks the event in 1294 when the city was under Muslim occupation and, according to tradition, angels carried the Holy House of Our Lady of Nazareth to Recanati.
The big bonfires built to mark this event, called the "Fuochi della Venuta" are also known as focaracci.
Two of the most typical of these bonfires take place on December 9, one in the Medieval square in Monteleone, and the other in Norcia for the Festival of the Bells.
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