As 300 million Europeans get ready for the feel of a brand new currency, a few thousands Italians will go a step further and eat it.
Pastry chefs in the town of Ascoli Piceno are preparing to make the world's biggest chocolate euro, a gigantic 100 euro note will give new meaning to the taste and smell of money.
Whipping together 20,000 eggs, thousands of litres of milk, 600 kilos of sugar and nearly a tonne of cocoa and butter, the cooks will create a chocolate feast fit to feed thousands.
The edible money is expected to be ready by midnight on December 31st and will be broken into 10,000 pieces for the residents of the town, northeast of Rome, to enjoy as they usher in the new year and the new common currency.