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Italy: Italy, slightly larger than Arizona, is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. It is filled with culture and beautiful sceneries. Each corner of this beautiful country will take you back in time to ancient times and you will recognize its great development till nowadays. Offers unbeatable touristic destinations such as: Florence and its artistic productions and fashion, Rome, the capital city known as the eternal city, Venice, the romantic city built under water, Verona, an imposing city setting of the drama "Romeo and Juliet", and Milan, the most fashionable city in Italy. Rome, the capital of Italy, has many attractions and tours for all the family and great places to stay at such as the Rome Apartments scattered around the city; The museums in Rome and The Piazzas are some of the most interesting places in Italy, because most of the major artists, representatives of ancient times, were born in Italy and Rome conserves their artworks at the many museums, churches and even piazzas some of these places are: Saint Peter?s Square and Basilica, Castel Sant' Angelo, Piazza Navona and the Fountin of Four Rivers, Santa Maria del Popolo and Piazza del Popolo and The Pantheon among other places. Another way to celebrate your Christmas and New Year is the Italian way. Naples is one of the top producers of Italian nativity scenes and there are many stores selling nativity figures. Hundreds of beautiful nativity scenes decorate the city. Christmas starts eight days before Christmas and last till after the Feast of Epiphany. Musical salutes are made at the shrine of the Virgin Mary and songs are played at the homes of carpenters in honor of St. Joseph. Eight days before Christmas, a special Novena of prayers and church services begin. It all ends on Christmas Day. New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the incoming year. alians call New Year's Eve Capodanno (the "head of the year") or Notte di San Silvestro (the night of St. Silvestro). Dinner is traditionally eaten with parents and friends. It often includes zampone or cotechino (a kind of spiced Italian sausage) and lentils. Fireworks are displayed across Italy. A lentil stew is eaten when bell tolls midnight - one spoon per bell. This is supposed to bring good fortune; the lentils represent coins, being round in shape.