This year more than 12 million people in Italy are expected to take a short break around the Festa dell'Immacolata on 8 December, according to projections by Italian hotel federation Federalberghi. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a Catholic holy day and public holiday in Italy, falls on a Thursday in 2022.
 
This will see many businesses and employees making a 'ponte' or bridge by taking Friday 9 December off work to create a four-day weekend. Federalberghi estimates that 94.1 per cent of those going on vacation will do so in Italy - in most cases in their home region or one nearby - with 5.9 per cent taking a mini holiday abroad, news agency ANSA reports.