SOTTO IL SOLE DI MEZZANOTTE: LAPPONIA, CAPO NORD E LOFOTEN

Arrival at and collection of rental car, Situated right on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is known throughout the world as the “home of Father Christmas”, but its identity goes far beyond the magic of the festive season. Santa Claus Village, open all year round, remains an unmissable stop: here you can cross the Arctic Circle, visit the famous post office and soak up that fairytale atmosphere that captivates adults and children alike. The heart of Rovaniemi is also modern and cultural: the Arktikum Museum, with its exhibitions on Arctic life and the Sámi people, is one of the most important research centres in the North. Almost entirely destroyed during the Second World War, the city was rebuilt according to a design by Alvar Aalto, who gave it a striking layout shaped like reindeer antlers. The surrounding area is home to endless forests, waterways, profound silence and a natural landscape that changes with the seasons: the Northern Lights in winter, the midnight sun in summer. Lively, welcoming and easy to navigate, Rovaniemi is the perfect gateway to the magic of Lapland. Recommended experiences: • Visit to Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle • Admission to Arktikum, a museum and centre dedicated to Arctic culture • A stroll along the Ounasjoki River or through the city centre • Dinner at a traditional Lappish restaurant serving reindeer and salmon dishes Pernottamento a Rovaniemi.

Leave Rovaniemi by following the E75 northwards, one of the most picturesque roads in the whole of Finland. Today is all about discovering the most authentic Lapland, amidst endless forests, vast expanses of tundra and small villages where time passes slowly. The first stop is Sodankylä, a town known for its 17th-century wooden church and the Midnight Sun Film Festival, which brings the village to life every June with non-stop screenings under the light of the Midnight Sun. Here you can take a short stroll, have a coffee or sample some local specialities. A little further north lies Luosto, a small alpine village dominated by the hills of the Pyhä–Luosto National Park. Here stands the Lampivaara Amethyst Mine, one of the few amethyst mines still in operation worldwide and open to visitors in summer: a unique and much-loved experience combining geology, history and Arctic nature. Continuing along the E75, you’ll reach Ivalo, then Inari, the spiritual heart of the Sámi people. If you’d like to learn more about Arctic culture, the Siida Museum is certainly worth a visit, but you can also choose to head straight north. The road becomes increasingly wild as you approach Karigasniemi, the last Finnish village before the Norwegian border. From here, you follow the Inarijoki River and, within minutes, you enter Norway. Your final destination is Karasjok, the political and cultural capital of the Norwegian Sámi people. It is home to the Sámi Parliament and an important centre dedicated to Sámi culture. The village is surrounded by remote and tranquil landscapes, where reindeer and Arctic pastures still define daily life today. Recommended experiences: • Lampivaara Amethyst Mine (Luosto) • Siida Museum (Inari) • Evening stroll along the Karasjohka River • Traditional Sámi dinner featuring reindeer dishes and Arctic produce Pernottamento a Karasjok.

Pernottamento a Alta.

Pernottamento a Tromso.

Pernottamento a Svolvaer.

Pernottamento a.

Pernottamento a Kiruna.

Leave Kiruna by following the E10 eastwards, passing through one of the most remote and tranquil regions in all of Sweden. The road winds through forests, peat bogs and rocky plateaus, offering an almost hypnotic landscape: a succession of dark lakes and larch trees reflected in the still water. About halfway along the route, you’ll reach Pajala, a small town with a simple, authentic charm, known for being the home of the pastor and botanist Lars Levi Læstadius, a central figure in the religious movement that bears his name. Here you can visit his house-museum and take a short walk along the River Torne, one of the most pristine rivers in Northern Europe. Continue south-east until you cross the Finnish border once more. As you approach Rovaniemi, the landscape gradually changes: the tundra gives way to the vast forests of Lapland, wide, sun-drenched rivers and small wooden villages dotting the road. Back in the city, make the most of the afternoon to explore what you didn’t have time to see at the start of your journey. Less than an hour to the south lies the Ranua Wildlife Park, where you can observe Arctic wildlife such as wolverines, lynx and polar bears up close. If you prefer to stay close to the city, the cultural district is home to the Arktikum, a fascinating centre dedicated to life in the Arctic regions, the Korundi, home to Lapland’s contemporary art gallery, and the Provincial Museum. For a more immersive experience of local traditions, you could spend a couple of hours at the Lapland Forest Museum or the Local History Museum, splendid examples of wooden architecture set amidst nature. Recommended experiences: • Visit to Pajala and the Læstadius House Museum • Ranua Wildlife Park • Arktikum, Korundi and the Provincial Museum of Lapland • Lapland Forest Museum Pernottamento a Rovaniemi,

These are your final hours to enjoy Rovaniemi and the unique atmosphere of Lapland’s capital. Depending on your flight time, you can make the most of it with a stroll through the city centre, a coffee in one of the local bakeries, or a quick browse through the Finnish design shops for one last Arctic souvenir. Return your hire car at the airport and catch your return flight. End of services… and a suitcase full of authentic Lapland, remote places and unforgettable atmospheres. Recommended experiences: • A stroll around Rovaniemi before your flight • Last-minute shopping for local crafts • A coffee break in a traditional bakery,