The Christmas tree of Gubbio is the largest in the world and, seeing it, one fills one's eyes with magic. It can be seen there, lying on the hill, as if watching over the city. Holding back the emotion is almost impossible.
How was the Gubbio Christmas tree born?
The history of 'Christmas tree of Gubbio it begins in 1981, but it is in 1991 that it entered the Guinness World Record such as'biggest Christmas tree in the world. On on 7 December and off on the second Sunday of January, is among the most spectacular Christmas attractions in Italy. So much so that, from all over the world, tourists come to visit it. While Gubbio and its citizens look at it with pride.
Built along the slopes of Monte Igino, it is formed by 800 light bodies (strictly powered with energy from renewable sources). The lights, different in size and color, give life to a truly unique show. A Christmas tree 450 meters wide and 750 meters high, which "arises" from the walls of Gubbio and which seems to rise to the sky, until it reaches the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo on the top of the mountain. Three hundred lights form the perimeter, four hundred fill it, two hundred and fifty give shape to the comet. Thus, the Gubbio Christmas tree comes to measure 13 thousand square meters, like thirty football fields or a little less.
Over 7 meters of electrical cables are used to illuminate it and the volunteers work every year for about 1.300 hours (in addition to the 900 needed to dismantle it). A tried and tested mechanism, to create that Gubbio Christmas tree that the whole world envies. And that generates wonder, even just to see it in the picture.
The Christmas of Gubbio
In 1992, the group that in 1981 "invented" theChristmas tree of Gubbio has given itself a legal form, that of the "Mario Santini" Committee of the Largest Christmas Tree in the World. A name that pays homage to those who first came up with the idea, for a group that - year after year - has seen more and more volunteers join. After all, the luminous fir has a long history that is intertwined with famous names of men and cities: in 2019 it was lit by Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in 2017 from Spazio (by the hand of Paolo Nespoli). And then by Pope Francis, Save the Children, Doctors without Borders, Giorgio Napolitano, Terence Hill, Barbara D'Urso, Maria Grazia Cucinotta. However, the tree is not the only attraction of Christmas in Gubbio.
At the foot of the tree, the Christmas country with the markets and the Santa Claus Train, the Colle Eletto cable car, the Santa Claus Sleigh, the Great North Pole Ferris Wheel, the Enchanted Carousel and the Artistic Lights called to illuminate Piazza San Giovanni (opening dates of the Christmas Land: from 4 to 12 December, 18 and 19 December, and then from 24 December to 9 January). For one of the most beautiful Christmas in Italy.
Featured photo taken from the Facebook page of the Albero di Gubbio
