Christmas Tree

The tree, the annual gift from the people of Norway, will be lit this year by the Mayor of Oslo. The tree is illuminated daily from 12.30pm until midnight, and on most nights from Dec 9-24, there will be carol singing in aid of various charities from 5-9pm. This year, for the first time, two Norwegian spruces will arrive in London. The second, a 12-metre tree from the Fram Museum in Oslo, a gift to the National Maritime Museum to mark the museum’s recognition of polar explorer Roald Amundsen in the current exhibition ‘South: the Race to the Pole’, will be lit from Wed 6.

Marqués

The stables of the newly renovated Palais Kinsky have recently become home to Marqués, a plush new wine bar with a distinctly southern Spanish touch. While the tapas and cold cuts are on the slightly pricey side - ten black olives for AS40! - the excellent selection of 31 Spanish and Portuguese wines, including magnificent concoctions from the Ribera del Duero and Priorat, are well worth the investment. Cocktails and numerous brandies are also on offer so the accent is rather more on boozing than eating.

ID Pending

Deer at Christmas

Fernsehturm

Botticelli and the Divine Comedy

Best known for his pure, allegorical canvases, Botticelli was also commissioned by the Medici family to provide illustrations for Dante's 'Divine Comedy'. The project was never completed and the drawings were subsequently dispersed. This exhibition brings together the 92 surviving works, culled from collections in the Vatican and Berlin. Most are preliminary sketches, though several are in full colour, while others are highlighted in the primary reds, blues and yellows that Botticelli favoured. The show also recreates the artistic ambient of late 15th-century Florence with a display of other works by Botticelli and his contemporaries.

Lunchtime Recital

Alasdair Fraser plays William Marshall's fiddle from Edinburgh University's Collection of Historic Musical Instruments. Tickets at the door only. Part of Fiddle 2000.

My Top 12 things to do in Sydney

There's much more to do here than you might ever imagine. Here are my top 12 things to do in Sydney :

1: Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is one of the most noted architectural landmarks in the world and it isn't important how many footage you have seen it'll still wow you when you see it for the 1st time. Spend the morning walking round the Opera House and taking great footage with the excellent harbor as a background. If you want to find out all about the history of this famous landmark you can book to go on a led tour. They offer 2 tours which can simply prepared on the web. The second tour is a really in depth tour offering backstage access but it is awfully expensive.

After you have seen all you would like to of the Opera House take a ramble around;

2: Circular Harbour.
Here you may find some great cafeterias and restaurants where you can enjoy your meal with impressive perspectives of the harbor. One of the finest bars in the area is the Opera Bar. This is a cool place to snatch a drink but it can be exceedingly busy on weekends.

3: Blue Mountains
These mountains are named so thanks to the evaporating eucalyptus oil leaving a blue haze. There are plenty of tours operating from the town centre so you can select the best tour for you and your position. Most tours stop off on the way at the Featherdale Wildlife Park for approximately 40 mins. This isn't a big wildlife park so 40 mins is sufficient time to see everything.There's also a great wire vehicle so you can see great perspectives of the mountains.

4: Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is a great place for surfers, swimmers or for people that just need a day absorbing the sun. Bondi Beach is very accessible from all elements of Sydney by train and should not be much more than a 20 minute journey. Once at Bondi Junction you want to catch a bus to the sea front, the fare is fair and you can get a bus and train ticket at the same time. If you wish to do a spot of shopping before you head off to the beach there's a great Westfield mall at Bondi Junction. All of the major Australian chain stores are there and there are some great places to snatch lunch.

5: Sydney Harbor Bridge
The world's biggest steel arched bridge is an extraordinary sight, if you select not to climb the bridge then walking along the footpath is a definite must. The climb isn't too hard so all fitness levels can take part. After you reach the top you'll be met with fantastic perspectives of Sydney and this makes the price easily worth it. If finding out about the history of the bridge interests you then head over to the Pylon Museum situated on the Harbor Bridge. There's a charge for entry but if you have taken part in the bridge climb you'll receive a pass.

6: Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo is a big zoo opposite to the Opera House and is a great day for every age. To get to Taronga zoo you want to catch a ferry from Circular Dock. You can get a joint ticket at the ferry terminal which includes return ferry trips and the entry to the zoo. This is definitely worth doing as you can avoid queuing to buy tickets when you reach the zoo. The zoo also has a great eatery offering a wide selection of cold and warm food.

7: The Rocks
The Rocks is an old skool part of Sydney with cobbled streets and tons of personality. The Rocks is completely full of quirky keepsake shops, great cafeterias and heaps of bars with great lager gardens. This really is one of the finest places to spend a lazy afternoon in Sydney. The ideal time to go to the rocks is at the weekends when they have there local marketplace. The market operates Sat. and Sundays between 9 and 5.

You can pick up some truly great hand made products here and if space in your case is a difficulty for you some stalls will post your purchase home for you. If spooks and ghosts interest you then book to go on The Rocks Spook Tour. You can book the tour at the Holiday maker Info Centre situated in The Rocks, the tour can be busy so you'll need to order ahead.

8: Manly
Manly is a beautiful tiny beach city simply a short ferry ride from Circular Harbour. Manly has a great laid back vibe and is an exciting day out for all. If you would like to learn about sea life and reptiles then pay Oceanworld a visit. This aquarium isn't as enormous as the Sydney Aquarium but it still is a pleasant way to spend two hours.

9: Darling Harbor
Darling Harbor is a wonderful place simply a short walk from the town centre and has tons of stuff to keep all ages entertained. Here you may visit an aquarium, a wildlife park, watch a show at the IMAX theatre, shop or simply chill for the afternoon in a great caf or bar.

10: Sydney Aquarium
The Sydney Aquarium is one of top attractions in Darling Harbor. The aquarium is large and could take you an afternoon to see everything. The aquarium is extraordinarily tutorial which is good if you are going with youngsters. When buying your ticket you may also get a combined ticket for the Wildlife Park also. Here you can find all of the major shops and one or two quirky stores tossed in for balance. There are lots of great restaurants offering all kinds of food except for those n a restricted budget head to the food court for some great inexpensive eats.

11: The Royal Botanical Gardens
Head to the lush Botanical Gardens for a quiet morning where you actually need to feel at one with nature after living the town life. Take a quiet amble and admire the fantastic thing about what nature has to give. The gardens are excellent and there are masses of great places to have a picnic or sit and watch the world go by. Mrs Macquarie's Chair was carved in 1816 so you can absorb a little bit of history at the same time.

The area can be quite busy before and after working times as it is a popular place with the neighbors to go jogging. In the guts of the gardens there's a great caf but it can be a bit expensive so if you're on the cheap bring your own food.

12: Sydney Airport
Ok, so this isn't a great attraction - but if you are visiting Sydney then there is a great chance that you will be passing through the airport. Qantas fly direct to Sydney, and if you want Sydney Cheap Flights is set up solely to get you to (and out of) Sydney.

Holy Year at the Palazzo della Cancelleria

Although Palazzo della Cancelleria is in the city centre it is still Vatican territory, as these two concurrent Holy Year exhibitions testify. The first is devoted to Codex B and other priceless manuscripts from Vatican and foreign libraries which document the translation and the spread of the Gospels in the first centuries of Christianity. The second, entitled 'History, Religion and Memory', recreates the political and spiritual climate of the years of the Church, through the display of over 150 archaeological treasures.