Really the most important Christmas decoration in Italy is the Christmas Crib (presepe or presepio in Italian). Most families will have one in their homes and also every church has a presepe and even many quares, shops, and other public areas wil feature one. Some of the best cities in Italy to go and see these public Nativity Scenes are: Naples (with its Via San Gregorio Armeno - home of the craftsmen for Native Scenes), Vatican City with an enormous Crib in St. Peter's Square, Verona where an international display of nativities can be seen in in the Arena in January, Trento in Alto-Adige region has a large nativity scene in Piazza Duomo and not to forget Celleno, a small town in the Lazio region with a beautiful presepe that is set up for viewing all year around.
The cribs are set up starting on December 8, which is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, until January 6, (Epiphany). Important: baby Jesus is added to the Crib on Christmas Eve!.
But where to see Living Nativity Scenes in Italy ? Here's a good selection for you:
Barga (Tuscany): this medieval hill town displays a living nativity with more than 200 people participating.
Chia (Lazio): a large living nativity with more than 500 participants, almost all the inhabitants of the village participate to create a surreal reproduction, recreating ancient craft shops, taverns and many other places in which the visitor can enjoy the atmosphere of those times.
Custonaci (Sicily): in this small town you can visit a beautiful nativity scene inside a cave. The Nativity of Custonaci is considered the biggest event of valorisation of the Sicilian trades and popular traditions. Inside the cave "Mangiapane" houses, stables, sheep pens, chicken coops form an authentic rural village. Shepherds, farmers, craftsmen, artists reproduce the daily activities of the past. Some 160 partecipants.
Equi Terme (Tuscany): reenactment of the nativity that takes place throughout the village which is lighted with torches and candles, and costumed characters bring the Crib to life. Equi Terme Living Nativity on YouTube
Vetralla (Lazio): the event will take place in the heart of historical center of Vetralla, the medieval hamlet San Giuseppe.
But where to see Living Nativity Scenes in Italy ? Here's a good selection for you:
Barga (Tuscany): this medieval hill town displays a living nativity with more than 200 people participating.
Chia (Lazio): a large living nativity with more than 500 participants, almost all the inhabitants of the village participate to create a surreal reproduction, recreating ancient craft shops, taverns and many other places in which the visitor can enjoy the atmosphere of those times.
Custonaci (Sicily): in this small town you can visit a beautiful nativity scene inside a cave. The Nativity of Custonaci is considered the biggest event of valorisation of the Sicilian trades and popular traditions. Inside the cave "Mangiapane" houses, stables, sheep pens, chicken coops form an authentic rural village. Shepherds, farmers, craftsmen, artists reproduce the daily activities of the past. Some 160 partecipants.
Equi Terme (Tuscany): reenactment of the nativity that takes place throughout the village which is lighted with torches and candles, and costumed characters bring the Crib to life. Equi Terme Living Nativity on YouTube
Vetralla (Lazio): the event will take place in the heart of historical center of Vetralla, the medieval hamlet San Giuseppe.
