This reputation is due to Italy's long handicrafts? tradition, and although the era we live in is characterised by mass industrial production, in Italy minor entrepreneurs and craftsmen keep playing an important role in promoting, in Italy as well as abroad, the quality of those products which are realised in an artisanal way, as well as the culture and tradition that stay behind this kind of working.



To celebrate Italian products, like every year Italy's capital city hosts a fair that focuses on handicraft, food and wine: the ?Arti e Mestieri Expo?, which will take place from the 11th to the 14th December in the exhibitory spaces of the Nuova Fiera of Rome. The 20,000 m? of the fair will host hundreds of exhibitors coming from all over Italy, and it will be a very good chance for all those who wish to enjoy genuine food and wine and to find products realised in a very painstaking and skilful way. Space will be given to many different sectors: clothes, furniture, gift and fancy goods, jewellery, organic and natural products, printing and, last but not least, food and wine. This variety of sectors will be characterised by a common feature: all products will be realised in an artisanal way. This is particularly important, because handicrafts can prevent us from forgetting ancient traditions and help us in connecting the typical jobs and arts that characterise our history and tradition with new working techniques and materials, and in this way it is possible to create unique, original and valuable products.

Visitors (the 2007 edition of the fair hosted over 50.000 visitors) will have the possibility to discover Italy's regional products (the exhibitory space, indeed, will be partitioned into smaller thematic areas, according to the type of products and to their provenance, in order to highlight the variety of Italy's different regional traditions) and, since the fair takes place just before Christmas, they will have the possibility to buy special presents that will certainly be appreciated. Those who have a sweet tooth, or who simply love genuine and good food, will certainly stop at the numberless food and wine stalls, which will offer a great range of dishes and products coming from all Italian regions. In particular, this edition of the fair will be focused on the brewing of good, artisanal beer, and it will host the best international breweries.

During the fair an important role will be played also by workshops and other entertainments: for example, visitors will have the possibility to watch some shows during which skilful craftsmen will explain particular working techniques, but other editions have also hosted fashion shows, areas for children and spaces where gift parcels can be prepared.

Is there someone who does not know anything about Italy's handicrafts, food and wine tradition? If you wish to immerse yourselves in this tasty matters, book now your cheap hotel in Rome and visit, apart from the city's beauties, also the ?Arti e Mestieri Expo?!

Tickets: free event

Date: 11th ? 14th December 2008

Location: Nuova Fiera di Roma, Rome, Italy