For the second year running Rome city council has brought together all the music, theatre, dance, exhibitions and other events organised by public and private organisations over the Christmas period.

Music events include Natalis in Urbe, organised by the Rome diocese, with concerts in the basilicas of SS. Giovanni e Paolo al Celio, S. Giovanni in Laterano, S. Maria sopra Minerva and S. Marcello al Corso, and the seventh edition of Organo in Festa, which this year is dedicated to J.S. Bach. There will also be the traditional Rome city Christmas concert organised by Italian director Enrico Castiglione on 23 December at 20.30 in the basilica of S. Maria in Ara Coeli and on 26 December, also in the basilica of S. Maria in Ara Coeli, featuring Luigi Cinque and the Tarantula Hypertext Orchestra (11.30).

Other highlights include the Natale all