The 2021 Christmas program of the friars of the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi has started with the blessing of the Nativity scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
A Nativity scene with several new features compared to last year.
In addition to the video projections on the Basilica of San Francesco, on the Cathedral of San Rufino and in Piazza del Comune, there are those of the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the Abbey of San Pietro.
The light installations will be accompanied by life-size sculptures, colorful artistic lighting on the houses in the historic center, visible from the plain, and stars that will illuminate the path between the sites involved.
A Christmas that will involve the whole city again this year.
Statues and video mapping that will reproduce Giotto's frescoes in the Basilica of San Francesco: tradition and modernity meet in Franciscan spirituality.
Until 10 January it will be possible to admire the video projections, installations and the exclusive video mapping of the interior of the Monumental Complex, which will allow the viewer to immerse themselves in the over 10 thousand square meters of frescoes, created by the architect Marco Capasso's studio.
The Nativity scene, which in 2020 consisted of two locations and 50 statues, will be expanded to involve even more the entire city of Assisi with over 100 life-size sculptures.
The Christmas tree, installed in the lower square of the Basilica of San Francesco, is a 15-meter white fir donated by the municipality of Castel Ivano in the province of Trento.
The fir, decorated with about 40,000 LED lights, comes from certified forests in the hamlet of Villa Agnedo.
Together with the tree there is also a traditional artisan nativity scene.
During the inauguration ceremony the choir, composed of 45 people, coming from Valsugana will perform.