Christmas, boom in San Marino: “All hotels are full”
“The Christmas of wonders” drives tourism: it is Sold until Epiphany. “Returning, if not to its glories, at least to the spirit of the pre-pandemic”. Here’s one of the goals he leveraged a “Christmas of wonders”key event of the winter season, scheduled in the historic center from 26 December to 8 January 2023.
To explain it is the Secretary for Tourism Federico Pedini Amati who, data in hand, speaks of expenses “in line with 2019”. With a premise that he deems necessary: «No one intends to waste money, especially considering the increase in electricity and the winds of war, but – he remarks – there are many possible measures to curb costs, ensuring that events are held properly».
After two years “very difficult for everyone”, a return to the origins of Christmas was also necessary, Pedini reiterates, who has budgeted a figure “equal to that of 2019, i.e. 400 thousand euros, of which 100 thousand for the low-consumption lights and lit only from 4 to midnight». Illuminations for which «a contribution was also requested and obtained from the traders». The efforts made, continues the Secretary, were crowned by the hotels being sold out until the end of the holidays.
Glimmers of lightheartedness
This is how the 20th edition of the event most awaited by children is staged, between toy factories and fairy-tale trains, starting from Polar Express which transforms piazza della Libertà into a family-sized railway platform. The schedule also includes the ice rink enlivened by snow and special effects and the 34 huts that host the Christmas markets, «the true pulsating force of the event because – underlines Pedini Amati – they light up the festive atmosphere». Adults and children, continuing the Secretary, will be able to turn on screens and headphones for a few hours, taking a tour of a historic center of lights and celebrations. “If posing a problem means doing nothing, then the problem is never solved,” he reiterated on the issue of organizing the initiative. After the tender, called in June and developed in September, the initiative was signed by Nextime.
Everyone on board
The highlight of the event is the departure from the Montale Gallery with the engine of the historic little train, which before the bombings of 1944 connected the Titano to Italy. «Until January 8, every Saturday and Sunday it will be possible to take a ride of 800 meters by rail. A proposal that finances itself with the payment of a ticket costing 5 euros and is very successful by hitting full houses for the 4 trips a day», notes the Secretary. But that is not all. There is a solution to have fun while saving. For those who will complete the stages of “The Christmas of Wonders”, by validating the ticket in the 4 main attractions, the journey on the train will be free. An idea which – explains the Secretary – will also make it possible to draw up a numerical balance of visitors.
Meanwhile, the project drawn up by Pedini continues, with Italy putting 2 million euros on the plate to restore the blue-and-white train from Coriano to the historic center within a year, «with important repercussions on tourism and on the economic fabric of the Republic» .