Editing Tourism in Italy (section)

===Christmas, New Year's Eve and Easter tourism===
{{further|Christmas in Italy|Easter in Italy}}
[[File:Neve a Verona 17.01.2006 033.jpg|thumb|[[Christmas lights]] in [[Verona]], [[Veneto]]]]
[[File:Addolorata3.JPG|thumb|Easter ''Addolorata'' procession in [[Polistena]], [[Calabria]]]]

[[Christmas in Italy]] begins on 8 December, with the [[Feast of the Immaculate Conception]], a [[Public holidays in Italy|public holiday in Italy]] and the day on which traditionally the [[Christmas tree]] is mounted and ends on 6 January, of the following year with the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=November 25, 2013|title=The Best Christmas Traditions in Italy|url=https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/things-to-do/christmas-traditions-in-italy|access-date=January 26, 2021|website=Walks of Italy|language=en-GB}}</ref> 26 December ([[Saint Stephen's Day]], in Italian {{Lang|it|Giorno di Santo Stefano}}), is also a public holiday. The tradition of the [[nativity scene]] comes from Italy. What is considered the first nativity scene in history (a living nativity scene) was set up by [[St. Francis Of Assisi]] in [[Greccio]] in 1223.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Christmas in Italy|url=http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/italy.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215093413/http://www.whychristmas.com:80/cultures/italy.shtml |archive-date=December 15, 2005 |access-date=January 26, 2021|website=Why Christmas}}</ref> It seems that the first [[Christmas tree]] in Italy was erected at the [[Quirinal Palace]] at the behest of [[Queen Margherita]], towards the end of the 19th century.<ref name=":2" /> In Italy, the oldest [[Christmas market]] is considered to be that of [[Bologna]], held for the first time in the 18th century and linked to the feast of [[Saint Lucy]].<ref name="Mercatini Italia">{{Cite web|url=https://corrieredibologna.corriere.it/bologna/cronaca/21_novembre_16/mercatini-natale-bologna-emilia-romagna-dove-sono-regole-visitarli-d06af226-4677-11ec-8ff0-74bdfd3715c3.shtml|title=Mercatini di Natale a Bologna e in Emilia-Romagna: dove sono e le regole per visitarli|access-date=1 December 2021|language=it}}</ref>

Italy is among the countries most visited in the world by tourists during the [[Christmas and holiday season|Christmas holidays]].<ref name="turismo-natale">{{cite web|url=https://www.ilgiorno.it/milano/cronaca/turismo-natale-capodanno-dse8w416|title=Milano capitale europea del turismo: a Capodanno prima scelta per tedeschi, inglesi e portoghesi|access-date=2 January 2024|language=it}}</ref> The attraction factors are the not too harsh climate, the cultural offer of the cities including museums, exhibitions and party initiatives, the rich gastronomy as well as the more affordable prices compared to other countries.<ref name="turismo-natale"/> Italy is the second European country most visited by European tourists during the Christmas holidays behind [[Spain]] and ahead of [[Portugal]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="turismo-natale"/> The Italian cities most visited by international tourists during the Christmas holidays are, in order, [[Milan]], [[Rome]], [[Naples]], [[Catania]], [[Palermo]] and [[Cagliari]].<ref name="turismo-natale"/> Milan, in particular, is the favourite destination by European tourists for [[Germans]], [[British people|British]] and [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] tourists and the second for [[French people|French]], [[Spaniards]] and [[Dutch people|Dutch]] tourists.<ref name="turismo-natale"/>

[[Easter in Italy]] ({{langx|it|Pasqua}}) is one of the [[public holidays in Italy|country's major holidays]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ellci.net/easter-how-does-italy-celebrate-this-festivity/|title=Easter: How does Italy celebrate this festivity?|access-date=6 January 2024}}</ref> Easter in Italy enters [[Holy Week]] with [[Palm Sunday]], [[Maundy Thursday]], [[Good Friday]] and [[Holy Saturday]], concluding with [[Easter Day]] and [[Easter Monday]]. Each day has a special significance. Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world during the [[Easter]] holidays.<ref name="turismo-pasqua">{{cite web|url=https://www.repubblica.it/viaggi/2023/04/05/news/turismo_internazionale_e_finalmente_la_pasqua_del_boom_prenotazioni_su_del_29_roma_e_milano_strapiene-395032328/|title=Turismo internazionale, è finalmente la Pasqua del boom: prenotazioni su del 29%, Roma e Milano strapiene|access-date=4 January 2024|language=it}}</ref> Italy is the second European country most visited by international tourists during the Easter holidays behind [[Spain]] and ahead of [[France]] and [[Greece]].<ref name="turismo-pasqua"/> The Italian cities most visited by international tourists during the Easter holidays are, in order, [[Rome]], [[Milan]], [[Venice]], [[Naples]], [[Florence]] and [[Bologna]].<ref name="turismo-pasqua"/>