At the moment, four big dark brown heaps are sitting in the sun. Walk past and you get a rich and fruity scent – rather like a good Christmas pudding.

(Heaps of leaves in case you were wondering…Find out more by clicking on the main headline title above !)

Walk into any church in Abruzzo during December – and with regional variations, this probably applies to the rest of Italy too – and you’ll find a lovingly-built Nativity scene: the ‘presepe’ depicting the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

But it’s a tradition that isn’t just confined to churches, because constructing a presepe is a hugely popular hobby among Italians…

(And our neighbour Nicolino annually produces one of the most ambitious presepe in Abruzzo. Click on the headline title above for more – with pictures…)

The only way you’re going to spend a day out in Rome – and have enough time there to enjoy it – is to go by coach.

Di Fonzo Autolinee run a terrific service from nearby Lanciano to the Tiburtina bus station just outside Rome’s centre. Catch the 8am service and you’ll arrive at 11am. A 100m walk to the Tiburtina metro station and you can be at the Vatican; the Colosseum; or the Spanish Steps about 20 minutes later. It’s a no-brainer.

(Read more about our day out in Rome – and see our snaps – by clicking on the main headline title above)