Christmas isn’t Christmas without the traditional cribs: we want to travel among the Italian cribs in a camper and dwell on some of the most beautiful. Shall we leave?
Traveling among the cribs of Italy in a camper
Matera
Cavallermaggiore (CN)
Has been represented in the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II for 45 years cribs of Cavallermaggiore, built on an area of over 300 square meters. From 8 December to 15 January 2023, you will be able to “walk inside”: already because this particular nativity scene offers you the particularity of visiting it internally and observing the scenes of life from different angles. Furthermore, some of his statues from the 1800s and early 1900s are 50 cm high, and mechanized. You will be able to see 15 fountains and water games up close, walk on over 300 kg of gravel and admire 2000 paper stars that make up the sky, just to give you some data.
How to visit
Information can be found on the dedicated website here, while the stop is allowed for the time of the visit in the square adjacent to the crib.
Genoa
Genoa boasts an ancient crib tradition that dates back to 1610: its heart is the monumental artistic nativity scene of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Assumption of Carbonara called “La Madonnetta”. Permanent, houses about a hundred wooden sculptures or period costumes (17th-18th centuries), produced in Genoa by great or anonymous artists.
How to visit
We provide the site for any reference and for the rest areas we invite you to visit the tourism site
But the city also offers many other nativity scenes, to combine the discovery of the city with these evocative moments. You can find them all listed here.
Manarola
In Manarola, in the province of La Spezia, there is the largest cribs in the world.
On about 4000m2. of the slope of the Tre Croci hill, this work by Mario Andreoli, which required 30 years of work, has been lit since 2007. Visible from the sea during the holiday season, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over Italy.
Manarola and the nativity scene
How to visit it
Manarola is a very small village which is difficult to reach by large means of transport. Our advice is to stop in the parking area in La Spezia and take public transport to the train station. From there you can easily get to Manarola with the local Cinque Terre train.
Loreto
In the Marche region, the charming Loreto exhibits the artistic nativity scene Benedict XVI that can always be visited, a stone’s throw from the Basilica of the Madonna. Over one hundred characters in movement, starting from the Annunciation of Mary, up to the Nativity schene.
How to visit
To visit it, it is advisable to write down the days and opening times, via the website Creche. Or visit the page of the tourism site also for your camper stop
Civita di Bagnoregio (VT)
Living nativity scene of Civita di Bagnoregio @civitadbagnoregio.it
In Civita di Bagnoregio in the magical environment of this village suspended on a tufa hill, the living cribs returns after two years. On 26 December 2022 and on the dates of 1, 6, 7 and 8 January 2023, from 16:00 to 19:00, crossing the iconic bridge suspended in the void, you will take a real step back in time. Through ten different scenes that reconstruct the days of Jesus’ birth, the visitor will live a unique experience. The Arab suq, the Roman castrum, the noble residences, the Bedouin tribe, the artisans at work, the magi, the shepherds, the hospital and of course the Nativity will have the beauty of the village as a natural background.
How to visit
For parking, we suggest the paid parking for cars and campers on Provincial Road 6 just outside the center of Civita.
Greccio (RI)
In Greccio, in the province of Rieti, tradition wants the first living representation of the crib. One of the oldest cribs, and even today, since 1972, every Christmas in Greccio that fascinating atmosphere is relived through the Historical Re-enactment of the Greccio Crib, staged by the local Pro Loco. It is not a historical re-enactment of Christmas night of 1223, but the night of the First Crib; when St. Francis of Assisi, in Greccio, summoned his friars and the inhabitants to celebrate Christmas around a cave where he arranged a manger, an ox and a donkey. There are 6 distinct scenes that have the same inhabitants of the village as actors. from 24 December until 8 January 2023 for 7 dates you will be able to see actors and extras re-propose this moment and combine a visit to the International Crib Museum.
How to visit cribs of Italy in camper
We recommend that you visit the official site of the living nativity scene and the Greccio tourism site, where you will find all the necessary information.
The camper parking area of Greccio is located in via San Francesco, a few hundred meters from the sanctuary. The area is open 24/7 throughout the year and is equipped with 7 pitches, water discharge/load, drinking water fountain, electricity connection, night lighting, flat fenced area. The historic center can be reached during the holidays by a connection to the sanctuary and the historic center where the Christmas markets and the Living Nativity scene are located.
Naples
The beating heart of Neapolitan Christmas is the Crib. The place par excellence is via San Gregorio Armeno, in Naples: also known as via San Liguoro or as Strada Nostriana, it is the street of the secular manufacturers of shepherds and here there is a real cult around the nativity scene.
How to visit
It is a street entirely dedicated to the shops where there are crib masters who hand-make statuettes that reproduce the protagonists of the Neapolitan crib. A true ancient tradition that over the years has managed to stay alive thanks to the passion of many craftsmen.
Find every reference on the tourism site in Campania and in the article dedicated to the shops. As well as at the
Matera for visit cribs of Italy in camper
Another fascinating living cribs we must mention the one in Matera and this year the title will be “Listen to my voice“. The itinerary will be in the Cine-Teatro Guerrieri where 5/6 theatrical and commemorative performances of the biblical events relating to the birth of Jesus will be proposed, lasting 50′ each. But only walking through the Sassi of Matera will give you a truly special emotion. For Angela, who visited it for New Year’s Eve in 2018 and under a snowfall, it really felt like she was in a crib!
How to visit
We leave you the official site of the event where to buy tickets; here instead you can find all the information for your stopover in a camper
Traveling among the cribs of Italy in Emilia Romagna, in a camper
Even ours region has its nativity scenes which, although smaller, are equally fascinating, let’s see some of them:
Cervia
Cervia credits Visit Cervia
Let’s go to Romagna and they are made of salt the protagonists of the Nativity of Cervia, famous for its salt pans, inside the Musa – Museum of Salt. The figurines are made through the guided crystallization of salt, a particular and delicate technique, and kept in a glass case for correct conservation. You will find it together with a very particular nativity scene: the mechanical one set in the territories of the municipality of Cervia.
How to visit it
To visit it, it is necessary to respect the times and days indicated in the Museum site. For parking, we advise you to consult the tourism site Cervia
Longiano (FC)
The historic center is filled with cribs placed outside the houses and in the squares for a walk made unique by the Christmas lights and the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the city. The showpiece will be the large mechanical nativity scenes of the War Refuge and the Sanctuary of the Crucifix, to name a few. In short, a suggestive journey in this medieval village, Orange Flag of Touring and extremely welcoming.
How to visit it
Visiting hours and collateral events can be found here. Camper parking is allowed in the Piazza Giovanni Rocca car park with camper service. Maneuvering difficulty for vehicles over 7 meters.
Modena
One of the most famous terracotta cribs is found inside the Cathedral of Modena, displayed in a niche to the right of the central nave and dates back to 1527. Although it has been moved for restoration work, it has always remained inside the Cathedral and we visited it during our meeting in the Modena area and were particularly fascinated by it.
How to visit
It can always be visited because the Cathedral is always accessible. For this, we provide the site of the Duomo and for your stopover the tourism site city.
Bobbio (Pc)
Along the streets of the centre, from 24 December, it will be possible to admire throughout the Christmas period the best designer crib, set up and clearly visible in the shop windows, under the arcades and even in private courtyards. The map with the various stops is available at the local IAT office.
How to visit it
The stop is in thedesignated area and it is outdoors
Bazzano fraz. Neviano degli Arduini (Pr)
Bazzano ( Neviano degli Arduini) Parma
Also called the town of cribs of italy, along the streets of the small town, every house, courtyard, window, it is adorned with a handmade nativity scene. it will be exciting to wander around with the map to find them all and… marvel at the imagination of people and their passion for creating them.
How to visit it
You will find every reference to the website of Man-Environment Museum asking for the manager Desolina, who will welcome you with pleasure.
Parma
The appointment with Natale all’Annunziata , organized and set up by theItalian Association of Friends of the Crib in Parma and set up in the Cloister of the SS.Annunziata in Parma. The exhibition will see a majority presence of nativity scenes made by members from Northern Italy. Among the cribs on display, a special mention goes to the Neapolitan-style crib.
How to visit
To reach the church from theparking area, you can take the bus from the car park and which stops right in front of the church. While the opening hours of the Presepi Exhibition are divided as follows Mon-Fri: 15.30-18.30 / Saturday-Sunday and Holidays: 10-12.00 and 15.30-18:30
Vigoleno (PC)
Even the small medieval village protected by the ancient walls and the keep has its own mechanical nativity scene: we have already told you about it
In a camper in Vigoleno, among nativity scenes and traditions
Our conclusions
Traveling among cribs of Italy in a camper means traveling the long road of the all-Italian tradition regarding one of the dearest Christmas elements we have.
We have made this list too long but we wanted to take a more intimate and collected look at one of the symbols of our Christmas. It’s true, the tree is beautiful and we can decorate it in various ways (see Angela’s), but the crib, for Monica and also Angela, occupies and always has a special place. Perhaps it will be the search for the statuettes, the moss (today it is found less and less) the composition, and the message it represents is even moving, as Monica always says.
So we thought of looking for and remembering the most beautiful ones, not only in our Emilia, but also around Italy and knowing that we haven’t mentioned them all, share with us what we haven’t mentioned! It will be exciting to find more, thanks to your help!
And now… good miles, looking for your favorite crib.
