The 10 most evocative nativity scenes in Italy

LIGNANO SABBIADORO - Handcrafted, sacred, miniature or living;

on the snow, floating, in the church or in the square: the nativity art, born in Italy in 1223 thanks to St. Francis of Assisi, amazes and enchants with unique creations made in different materials, from wood to sand, from ice to bread.

Every village and every locality, from north to south of the country, strives to create the most exciting and original nativity scene, often so suggestive that it is worth the trip.

We have chosen 10 that are striking for their charm and singularity.

As for the markets, the nativity scenes are also visited with the green pass and the mask.

    The nativity scene of Lignano Sabbiadoro, now in its 18th edition and made with the sand of the famous Friulian town, is also a tribute to the Divine Comedy. The nativity scene, organized by the Dome Aghe Savalon d'Aur association in collaboration with the Municipality and local associations, can be visited every day until 31 January on the Lungomare Trieste 5. Info: lignanosabbiadoro.it Until 6 January Ossana, in Val di Sole, hosts the 21st edition of a thousand nativity scenes joined in a path marked by a red rope and illuminated by ancient oil lamps. All 1600 crib works are handcrafted and made with poor and unusual materials: from wood to fabric, from seeds to corn leaves. Among the novelties of this year there is a Nativity that reconstructs the center of the village in miniature,a life-size nativity scene made with hay and the "women's rights crib", inside which is placed the statuette of the Ethiopian shepherdess Agitu Ideo Gudeta, who has become a symbol for many women thanks to her stubbornness and her commitment to defending nature and local populations. The nativity scenes, which can be visited every day from 10 to 22 until January 6, are found throughout the Trentino village, in every corner and courtyard, where the soft light gives great charm. Info: visitvaldisole.it Among the most famous Nativities in South Tyrol is the historic one of Santa Cristina in Val Gardena, where 18 sculptors, carpenters and master carvers set up a nativity scene with statues made of wood, even more than 2 meters high and rich in details. It is the largest mountain nativity scene in the world,and every year it is enriched with new figures. It is located in the Iman center of Dursan Strasse and can be visited every day until 8pm.

    Info: valgardena.it Since 1979 Laveno, a delightful village on the shore of Lake Maggiore, has hosted a spectacular submerged nativity scene at Punta Granelli.

    At the beginning it was composed of 3 large statues representing the Nativity, but today it has 42, positioned on 5 platforms at a depth of 3 meters. The figures, which seem to almost vanish in the light of day, come to life when the powerful underwater lights come on at night. Info: presepesommerso.it In Piedmont, the widespread nativity scene of Crodo, in the Alta Val d'Ossola, is particularly suggestive: there are 60 handcrafted arrangements inside the water of fountains, wash houses, basins and ancient mills in the village and its surroundings. Until 9 January it is possible to walk along the path of the small cribs that rises up to 1,217 meters in height. The route is open during the day and in the evening, when the lights of the nativity scenes make this experience along the streets even more suggestive.paths and mule tracks that lead from the 500 meters of Crodo to Alpe Foppiano.

    Info: crodoeventi.it The luminous nativity scene of Manarola, in the Cinque Terre, is the largest in the world: it extends for about 4 thousand square meters from the square of the church of San Lorenzo to the hill of Tre Croci, in the province of La Spezia, and it was created by Mario Andreoli from Manaroli in 30 years. Inaugurated in 2007, the craftsman used almost 8 kilometers of electric cables, 17 thousand light bulbs and more than 300 life-size figures, made with recycled materials and with lights powered by photovoltaic generators. The crib is visible until the end of January and is best admired from afar, especially along the coast road that comes from La Spezia.

    The floating nativity scene of Cesenatico is set up on the historic ships of the Maritime Museum, moored in the canal of the port designed by Leonardo. Since 1986 a group of enthusiasts including a sculptor created life-size statues in pine wood and oilcloth; they recall the Nativity through the life of the common people of a fishing village.

    The dresses are made of canvas and the voluminous draperies, modeled on an intricate metal net, are obtained thanks to a layer of hot-brushed wax. Statues are added every year, a total of 50 and constitute the many scenes of the Nativity, one for each boat. It is even more impressive in the evening with the lights on on the Nativity scene, which can be visited until January 22nd. Info: visitcesenatico.it It is in Greccio, 18 kilometers from Rieti, that the first nativity scene in the world was set up, a tradition begun by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 who saw a strong resemblance to Bethlehem in the Lazio village. Every year since 1972, on 24 December, a representation of the nativity scene with characters in medieval costume is organized at the foot of the sanctuary carved into the rock, giving rise to 6 living pictures. Info: visitgreccio.com The streets of the Sassi di Matera are the backdrop to the largest and most evocative living nativity scene in the world with over 300 extras who give life to the scenes of the Nativity. The show is guaranteed by the beauty of the city and by the participation of theater companies and cultural associations. This year's edition, entitled "Hope for the future", intends to send out a signal of hope for the future. Inaugurated on 7 December, the nativity scene will take place on the weekends of 11 and 12 and 18 and 19 December, on 1 and 2 January and from 6 to 9 January. Info: presepematera.it The crib of Olmedo, an agro-pastoral locality in the north of Sardinia, is made with bread and set up from 25 December to 6 January in the Romanesque church of Nostra Signora di Talia.The women bakers of the Sassari village create the settings and characters of the representation of Christmas.

    Info: sardegnaturismo.it (ANSA).