Each year people sponsor lights on Italy’s famous Christmas tree display in a tradition that marks 45 years in 2025.
The “world’s largest Christmas tree” is lit up each year on the slopes of Monte Ingino, overlooking the mediaeval town of Gubbio in Italy’s central Umbria region.
To mark the festive season, the town illuminates its magical tree-shaped installation with more than 700 lights in an annual ceremony that started in 1981.
This year, the 45th edition of the lighting-up event will be streamed live on the social media channels of the Albero di Natale più Grande del Mondo on Saturday 7 December 2025 at from 17.30-19.00.
Topped with a giant star, the Christmas tree measures 750m in height.
There are 8.5 km worth of cables powering the lights of the enormous display which entered the Guinness Book of Records in 1991.
The tree is outlined with 300 green lights while the interior is lit up with 400 multicoloured lights.
The ‘roots’ of the tree stretch from near Gubbio’s ancient walls while its star reaches the basilica of the town’s patron saint, S. Ubaldo, at the peak of the mountain.
Each of the tree’s lights is ‘adopted’ by locals who dedicate a light to their loved ones, with messages ranging from welcoming newborn babies to saluting dearly-missed grandparents.
The Christmas tree will be lit up each night, from 17.00 to 01.00, until 12 January 2025. For full information see website.
