Italy’s best live nativity scenes

Discover the best Live Nativity Scenes Italy has to offer this year with this Italo guide to spending a memorable family weekend.

This Christmas season, journey beyond the typical markets and discover the enchanting tradition of Italy’s presepi viventi, life-sized Nativity scenes. Imagine strolling through charming towns transformed into living depictions of Bethlehem, complete with artisans practicing ancient crafts and townsfolk portraying biblical characters.

Unveiling a Beloved Tradition

For centuries, Italians have celebrated Christmas with these evocative displays. Each region boasts its unique take, offering a glimpse into local history and customs. Here, we unveil ten of the most captivating presepi viventi, all accessible by train with Italo:

1. The live Nativity scene of San Biagio – Lombardy
2. The live Nativity scene of Tenno – Trentino Alto Adige
3. The live Nativity scene of Dogliani-Castello – Piedmont
4. The live Nativity scene of Equi Terme – Tuscany
5. The live Nativity scene from Greccio – Lazio
6. The live Nativity scene of Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio
7. The live Nativity scene of Pietrelcina – Campania
8. The 18th century live Nativity scene from Vaccheria – Campania
9. The live Nativity scene of Tricase – Apulia
10. The live Nativity scene of Gasperina – Calabria

1. The live Nativity scene of San Biagio – Lombardy

The “Notte di Luce – Presepe Vivente” in San Biagio (a Bagnolo San Vito, in the province of Mantua) reaches its 32nd edition. You’ll find it at Via Chiesa 30: the setting is the sports field next to the parish church, covering an area of around 5,000 m². It is a silent, truly unique environment that brings alive the magic of Christmas.

For the 2025-26 season the dates are: 25-26-28 December 2025 and 4-6-11 January 2026. (Entrance is free; you may leave an offering for the parish.)

This living Nativity involves more than 300 figures in costume, depicting the birth of Jesus through an immersive village of artisans and merchants, old tools, and ancient trades.

• From about 15:30 the village awakens with bustling artisans and craftsmen (bakers, fishermen, blacksmiths, weavers) each at their historic station.
• At dusk (~17:00) the Nativity sequence begins: Annunciation, Visitation, Angel to Joseph, the birth of Jesus, adoration of shepherds and Magi.
• At ~17:30 the feast begins: lights illuminate houses and figures, Bethlehem turns into a place of celebration, where time slows down and worries fade.

The setting is perfect for a train-accessible short break: arrive via high-speed rail, enjoy the quiet spectacle of the village and immerse yourself in a living tradition of Christmas.

Travel to Mantua with Italo

Set out for Mantua with Italo and enjoy the ease of traveling to more places thanks to the new combination tickets from Italo with Trenitalia regional trains. Discover all the new itineraries and connections and immediately buy your ticket on Italotreno. Before buying your ticket, remember to log in to your account to take advantage of Italo Più offers and rates for members only. If you haven’t already done so, you can register for free for the Italo Più Loyalty Program, and immediately get a 5% discount on your first trip and accumulate points on consecutive trips to earn free reward tickets.

2. The live Nativity scene of Tenno – Trentino Alto Adige

Experience the Christmas magic in the medieval village of Canale di Tenno, one of Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, perched between Lake Garda and the Alps. During the holiday season (from late November through December), this enchanting hamlet transforms into a living postcard of tradition: cobbled lanes, stone houses, and hidden courtyards host Christmas markets, local artisans, and festive performances.

Among the highlights is the live Nativity scene, usually held around Boxing Day (26 December), when the entire village becomes a stage for angels, shepherds, and the Holy Family. The event recreates the atmosphere of Bethlehem through ancient crafts, warm lights, and the sound of Christmas carols echoing through the narrow streets.

Walking through Canale di Tenno feels like stepping back in time — every corner tells a story, every window glows with the warmth of the season. It’s a truly authentic and evocative experience, perfect for those exploring northern Italy by train or planning a winter escape to Lake Garda and the Dolomites.

Head to Rovereto with Italo

Reach Rovereto with the ease of Italo high-speed trains and then take the public transport to Trentino at Canale di Tenno, it takes less than an hour and a half. Visit the page regarding train timetables for Rovereto and buy your low-cost, modifiable ticket in advance. Don’t miss our guide to Christmas markets in Rovereto: a memorable experience!

3. The live Nativity scene of Dogliani-Castello – Piedmont

This spectacular living Nativity has become a cherished tradition in the picturesque village of Dogliani (CN), Piedmont. Set within the old castle district and the surrounding houses at Castello di Dogliani, the event presents a vivid rievocation of the Nativity, with the village transformed into a striking, if more intimate, “Bethlehem-style” setting.

The upcoming edition is scheduled for 23 and 24 December 2025 in the evenings (start time to be confirmed, usually around 20:30).

During these two nights, visitors wander through historic streets and squares where local farmers, blacksmiths, potters, shepherds and other artisans recreate their traditional trades in authentic settings. Costumes, ambiences and lighting combine to immerse you in a timeless scene of Christmas wonder.

A perfect stop on a train-based journey across Piedmont: arrive by rail, stay overnight in the Langhe, and let the lights, stories and aromas of Dogliani wrap you in a memorable holiday experience.

Travel to Turin with Italo

Reach Turin by high-speed train on the many routes established by Italo from Salerno, Naples, Rome, Florence, Reggio Emilia, etc. Make use of the combination tickets from Italo, linking with the regional trains of Trenitalia, to discover even more itineraries and connections easily bought all at once on Italotreno.

4. The live Nativity scene of Equi Terme – Tuscany

In the region of Lunigiana (province of Massa-Carrara), the small mountain village of Equi Terme stages one of Tuscany’s most evocative living Nativity scenes. The setting is the dramatic Grotta di Equi – a caves system of outstanding natural and geological significance – and the path to it is lit by torches and candles, creating a breathtaking atmosphere.

For the 2025 edition the dates are: 25 December (20:30 – 23:30), and 26, 27, 28 December (18:00 or 20:30 – 21:00 or 23:30).
During the experience, you walk through the village, past stone houses transformed into artisan workshops – spinners, shepherds with animals, blacksmiths, potters – and finally reach the cave where the sacred scene is enacted in a very natural setting.

Admission is paid (check the official site for the exact ticket price for 2025). The route takes approximately 40–60 minutes and is best done in warm clothing and good shoes due to uneven terrain and evening hours.

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5. The live Nativity scene from Greccio – Lazio

Less than an hour and a half from Viterbo, in Greccio, the tradition of the living nativity scene is one of the oldest in Italy. It was there, in Greccio, in 1223, that St. Francis set up the world’s first live nativity scene after saving the medieval town from the threat of wolves. Francesco moved to a hut just outside Greccio and, admiring the landscape similar to the city of Bethlehem, decided to re-enact the birth of Jesus in this very village carved into the rock.

According to the biographies of St. Francis, the lord of the castle, following the advice of the saint, had a crib built in a cave under the castle of the town. During a religious ceremony, a child appeared and St. Francis took him in his arms.

Since then, every year during the Christmas season, this wonderful and evocative moment is recalled under the castle of the small town.

6. The live Nativity scene of Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio

Another deeply evocative nativity scene near Viterbo is found in the hillside village of Civita di Bagnoregio, set in the stunning landscape of the Valle dei Calanchi. The event is organized by the local branch of the Italian Red Cross (Bagnoregio & Lubriano), in collaboration with the municipality and Casa Civita srl.

For the 2025-26 edition, the living nativity takes place on 26 and 28 December 2025 and then 1, 4, 5, 6 January 2026, typically from about 16:00 to 18:30.
To reach the site, you cross the village’s iconic stone bridge, suspended over void amid scenic cliffs and village rooftops built into the tuff. Once inside, the streets of the ancient town become part of a mosaic of ten unique scenes: a Roman fortress, Herod’s court, Bedouin tribe, craftsmen at work, shepherds, the Magi, a leper-hospital and finally the Nativity itself.

The combination of setting and story offers a truly exceptional Christmas experience.

Head to Viterbo with Italo

Travel to Viterbo with Italo, using Italo’s combined tickets, which combine Italo’s luxurious high speed trains with Trenitalia’s regional trains, and which can be easily purchased in one go on Italotreno. Don’t miss our guide to the 5 most beautiful villages in Italy, including Civita di Bagnoregio, the dying town.

7. The live Nativity scene of Pietrelcina – Campania

In the birthplace of Padre Pio (Pietrelcina, province of Benevento), the annual living Nativity scene is a landmark event and draws visitors from across Italy. Organized by more than 200 local participants, it transforms the historic village into a miniature Bethlehem: Roman soldiers, high priests, shepherds, craftsmen at work, the Holy Family in the stable at the Forgione farmstead near the saint’s birthplace.

For the 2025 edition the dates are: 27, 28 and 29 December 2025.
Thanks to the exceptional attention to detail in costumes, scenography and community participation, the event immerses visitors in a vivid and emotional Christmas experience.

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Travel with Italo thanks to the many trains to Benevento and then on to Pietrelcina.

8. The 18th century live Nativity scene from Vaccheria – Campania

Just 4 km from Caserta, the small hamlet of Vaccheria hosts one of southern Italy’s most fascinating historical re-enactments: the Presepe Vivente del ’700 napoletano. This living Nativity recreates the atmosphere of 18th-century Naples through elaborate costumes, artisan workshops, shepherds, and Roman soldiers set among the narrow alleys of the village and its wooded surroundings.

The event is staged by local associations with hundreds of participants, offering visitors a glimpse into Neapolitan culture, faith, and everyday life as it was centuries ago.

For the 2025-26 edition, the living Nativity scene will take place on:
– 28–29 December 2025 and 4–5–6 January 2026
– Opening hours: 16:30 – 19:30
– Admission: €4 (full ticket); free for children under 6
– Location: Vaccheria di Caserta, near the Royal Site of San Leucio
– Parking: available at the village entrance (via della Vaccheria and nearby fields)
– Shuttle: a free shuttle service usually connects Caserta’s train station and the village on event days (check official announcements closer to the date).

The charming 18th-century setting, enhanced by torch-lit streets and live music, creates an unforgettable Christmas experience in the heart of Campania.

Head to Caserta with Italo

Travel to Caserta with Italo’s high speed train! Check all the timetables and prices of our trains to Caserta to arrive at Viale Giulio Douhe, 2014, just a few steps from the Royal Palace. Do not miss our guide on how to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta in one day and for a small culinary treat, here is a guide to the 5 best pizzerias in Caserta.

9. The live Nativity scene of Tricase – Apulia

In the province of Lecce lies the beautiful town of Tricase, a beloved summer destination known for its natural sea pool carved into the rocks — and, in winter, for hosting one of the most famous living Nativity scenes in Southern Italy.

Now in its 44th edition, the Tricase live Nativity has been staged since 1976 and is unique for its permanent setting, open all year round on the slopes of Monte Orco. Each Christmas season, the site transforms into a spectacular re-enactment that brings the ancient village of Bethlehem to life, with authentic costumes, lights, and local traditions from Capo di Leuca.

For the 2025–26 edition, the live performances will take place on
📅 25, 26, 27, 28 December 2025 and 1, 3, 4, 6 January 2026,
🕔 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in Contrada Monte Orco, Tricase (Lecce).
The event is free of charge.

Visitors follow a two-kilometre trail through olive groves, stone huts, and artisan workshops, illuminated by torches and fireplaces, discovering ancient crafts, music, and the aromas of traditional Salento cuisine. The experience culminates with the Nativity scene itself — an awe-inspiring tableau set against the soft glow of the Apulian countryside.

If you’re exploring Salento by train, it’s easy to reach Tricase from Lecce: take an Italo high-speed train to Lecce, then continue by local rail or bus.

While watching the live Nativity in Tricase, don’t miss the extraordinary local craftsmen at work, such as the tanner, a craft linked to the majestic Vallonea oak of Tricase, or the rope maker, the weaver, the stonemason, the papier-mâché artists, the miller and his wife. You can also taste local specialties such as pittule, a kind of fried pastry appetizer, and local wines.

In short, the Nativity of Tricase, faithful to tradition and folklore, is one of the most awaited events of the year in Puglia.

Head to Lecce with Italo

With Italo you can easily arrive in Lecce to discover its wonders and thanks to the new combination ticket from Italo that links its routes with Trenitalia regional trains. Discover all the itineraries and connections and instantly buy your ticket at Italotreno.

What are you waiting for? Lecce to Tricase is less than 40 minutes by train!

10. The live Nativity scene of Gasperina – Calabria

In the small town of Gasperina (province of Catanzaro), you’ll find a remarkable living Nativity scene organised by the Associazione Il Sotterraneo Pro Gasperina A.P.S., together with local associations and under the framework of regional tourism funding. The event takes place in Piazza E. Fermi, and in past editions (e.g., 26 & 27 December) the show has run from 17:00 to 20:30.

This living Nativity blends a scenic village setting on the Calabrian coast, authentic costumed figures and a community-driven production. If you’re planning to include it in your travel itinerary, check the event’s official channels closer to the date for finalised dates, times, entry details and any booking requirements.

With Italo travel to Lamezia Terme

Travel with Italo on one of the many trains to and from Lamezia Terme, such as from Milan or Rome to arrive in Gasperina. Experience the magic of the live nativity scenes in Calabria and discover the wonders of the region. Before buying your ticket, remember to log in to your account to take advantage of Italo Più offers and rates available only to members. If you haven’t already done so, you can join the Italo Più Loyalty Program for free and immediately receive a 5% discount on your first trip and collect points on future trips to earn free reward tickets.