In the German city known for the annual Oktoberfest celebration and its breweries, including the famous Hofbräuhaus, founded in 1589, a Christmas tree made entirely of 2,018 pure gold coins is on display. Joined together, they create the silhouette of a three-meter fir tree, whose value is estimated at 5.4 million euros. It belongs to the German company Proaren, specialized in gold trading. It was designed to create a symbol of wealth and festive spirit, using the most famous of all festive traditions. This is more than enough reason to be declared the most expensive in the world, and if there were an international Christmas tree contest, as there is for so many things: barbecue, pizza, salami, alfajores, etc., none would take this world title from it this year, infers the Argentine News agency, not without a little humor. However, it has rivals to dispute supremacy, such as the one in the lobby of the ultra-chic Kempinski Bahia hotel in Marbella, Spain, brimming with gemstone ornaments, which also value it as the most expensive in the world. Created by British haute couture designer Debbie Wingham, it is valued at the astonishing figure of 15 million dollars. Other luxurious works of art in the form of Christmas trees are found at: Acqua di Parma at the Hotel de Russie, Rocco Forte Hotels – Rome, Italy; Tiffany & Co. at Hotel Amigo – Brussels, Belgium; Baccarat at The Charles Hotel – Munich, Germany; Aquazurra at Hotel Savoy – Florence, Italy; Dior at Hotel Astoria – St. Petersburg, Russia; Paul Smith at Brown's Hotel – London, United Kingdom, and Missoni at Hotel de la Ville – Rome, Italy. One would have to go back to Emirates Palace (UAE), in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from December 16 to 29, 2010, to find a Christmas tree decorated with values in that superlative million-dollar range: 11,026,900 US dollars. It was covered with 181 jewelry items and was 13.1 m (43.2 feet) tall.
