Festa dell'Immacolata is a public holiday in Italy.

Rome marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on Friday 8 December - a Catholic holy day and a national public holiday in Italy - with a series of traditions and special events.

Pope Francis will pay homage to the Virgin Mary by making a pilgrimage to Piazza Mignanelli near the Spanish Steps at 16.00.

In a tradition dating back to 1958, the pope will leave a floral wreath at the base of the 19th-century Column of the Immaculate Conception in the piazza.

Firefighters will also place a garland of flowers on the top of the 12 metre-high statue of the Madonna.

• Italy marks Feast of the Immaculate Conception with 8 December holiday

The pope’s visit to the historic centre will result in a number of street closures and traffic restrictions in the area around the Spanish Steps during the day.

Later that evening Rome's mayor Roberto Gualtieri will switch on the lights on the Christmas tree in Piazza del Popolo and along the city's main thoroughfare Via del Corso.

This year the Christmas tree - decorated with hundreds of gold, silver and red baubles - leaves behind its traditional base at Piazza Venezia due to Metro C subway works.

• Rome to light up Christmas tree on 8 December

Schools, public offices and many businesses in the capital will be closed on 8 December however clothes shops stay open as the day is seen as the official start of the Christmas shopping season.

This year the festa falls on a Friday, meaning a long weekend, with millions of Italians expected to use the opportunity to take a short pre-Christmas holiday.

Cover image: Colonna dell'Immacolata Concezione, Piazza Miganelli, Rome.