If you have never visited Venice in Italy and you are considering a visit one of these fine days, consider doing so during the Venice carnival that takes place some 40 days before the start of Easter holidays.

According to records, carnival of Venice is believed to have started out way back in 1162 as a celebration of the victory of Serenissima Repubblica against the Patriarch of Aquileia. It is documented that it started as a victory dance as a show of appreciation and reunion in the San Marco square.

Italy is known for many things ranging from beautiful mountains and great landscapes to the best foods and wine you can think of but another sector that certainly touches the hearts of the Italian people is the fashion industry.

The italian presepio

Italy has been a strong Christian based culture for generations and through the years has adopted Christmas into their traditions. Italy is known for its strong traditions, and people from around the world can easily share in their experience. An Italian Christmas follows uniquely region specific traditions that are respected by almost all the households in the country. If you're looking to spend your Christmas among warm, passionate people who collectively share in the festive season, then Italy is the place to be.

Delicious food, great shopping opportunities, traditional culture and a welcoming European atmosphere… what better way could there be to prepare for the festive season than to visit some of Italy’s famous Christmas markets? The Christmas Markets in Italy or ‘Mercatino di Natale’ as they are known locally, takeChristmas Market in Bolzano place throughout Italy from late November to early January. Italian Christmas markets are held in many cities, and boast a wonderful, celebratory atmosphere. Elaborate nativity scenes, which form a focal point of many of the markets, are something for visitors to look out for.

One of the most traditional and enticing Christmas markets is to be found in Merano, in South Tyrol, in the very north of Italy. It is perhaps its proximity to its northern neighbors, Switzerland and Austria, that leads this market to feature delicious home-baked goods, often sweetened with cinnamon and spices. Traditional artisan crafts are also popular here. There is truly nothing as magical as meandering around this traditional Italian market whilst admiring the magnificent mountain scenery that surrounds the town.

Two floors of pure Italian style and gastronomic bliss for an investment of 28 million dollars: Eataly opened its umpteenth store in Chicago in which the Chicago Tribune defined it as “a giant food and Italian culture theme park”.  Inaugurated by Mario Batali, New York’s celebrity chef, who is one of Oscar Farinetti’s (founder of Eataly) American partners.Oscar Farinetti, Eataly founder

Farinetti, who opened the first Eataly store in Turin in 2007, “landed” in the United States in 2010 bringing the great Italian Food emporium to New York along with Batali and chefs Lidia and Joe Bastianich. New York’s Eataly is presently in third place (after MoMA and the Empire State Building) among the ten most visited tourist sites of the Big Apple.