Rome - A Christmas decoration of epic proportions is set to dazzle people for miles around in Gubbio, Italy.
Even the gaudiest rooftop display pales into insignificance beside the Gubbio Christmas Tree, a lighting scheme which runs 650 metres up a hillside to draw the outline of a fir tree. At night, the tree-shaped illuminations can be seen up to 50 kilometres away.
Though it's only an image of a tree, the “Albero di Natale,” as it is known locally, is accepted as the “world's largest Christmas tree” by the Guinness World Records.
The light show, on the slopes of Mount Ingino, is switched on every night from December 7 until January 10.
Another gigantic light installation can be seen in Terni, 120 kilometres south of Gubbio.
The Stella di Miranda shooting star stretches 400 metres across Monte Miranda, and is illuminated from December 8.
DPA