Rovaniemi - located in Finland - is Santa Claus´s hometown, that each year attracts more than 500,000 visitors from all over the world.

The Santa Claus Village - located right on the Arctic Circle - is open every day of the year, and is a kind of miniature village straight out of a storybook to explore without rush.

In this note we comment you about the origin of this town, whose history began back in 1950. At that time Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady of the United States at that time) visited the area after World War II. To commemorate the arrival of the first tourist to the region after the conflict, a cabin was built next to the Arctic Circle. Little by little the place gained fame and the town grew around Roosevelt's cabin. At the end of the century it was associated with the figure of Santa Claus and since 1985 this open-air shopping center added shops, restaurants, accommodation in glass igloos, cabins, luxury villas, hotels and a theme park, with Christmas as axis.

The Santa Claus Office is not only the most prominent building in the entire village, but inside it offers the most important experience of the walk: meeting and taking a photo with Santa Claus. Another place very popular with tourists is the post office, which is built of stone and pine wood.

This site is a colorful world of beautiful postcards, stamps and unique gifts where visitors can sit and write - with the help of cheerful elves working in their distinctive Christmas uniform - greetings from the Arctic Circle to their friends all over the world.

Restaurants and cafes offer a delicious selection that reflects the unique flavors and traditions of the North. Cinnamon rolls and braised reindeer, salmon roasted over an open fire, Finnish berries brought straight from the forest.

What else to visit in Santa Claus Village:

Rovaniemi has achieved what seemed impossible: attracting tourists to the Arctic Circle in the middle of winter, and it has done so not only thanks to Christmas. The winter appeal of Lapland is not limited to Santa Claus, but the cold, snow and ice also help, added to a unique landscape. You can enjoy a range of exciting outdoor sports, suitable for low temperatures. With approximately 400 km2 of slopes, it is no surprise that skiing is a very popular activity for local residents and visitors. There are also husky tours, reindeer sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris and much more. And for the bravest ones, try the traditional Finnish saunas next to the lake, with ice swimming or an outdoor jacuzzi.

Lapland is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights:

According to an ancient legend, the northern lights are created when a fox running through the hills of Lapland sends sparks from its tail into the northern sky, coloring the rays of light that cross it.

The geographical location of Santa Claus Village and its surroundings make it a suitable area to encounter this natural phenomenon. The northern lights season in the Arctic Circle begins in September and continues until early April, a soft light bathes the night and creates a unique atmosphere in which the northern lights shine. However, in December the longest nights of the year take place and, therefore, there is greater time of darkness, which increases the probability of seeing the phenomenon.

With the help of competent guides who offer safaris to places where there is little artificial light and the views to the north are picturesque, it is possible to hunt the northern lights in the best conditions and obtain unforgettable photographs.

Immersing yourself in this unique corner, where Christmas is eternal, offers not only the opportunity to discover Santa Claus's house, but also to explore the Arctic Circle. This kingdom of ice and snow, located in the most northern regions of the planet, offers a unique experience full of amazement and natural beauty.

PH: www.santaclausvillage.info