Each year the international media plays reels at the end of Christmas news reports of the highly elaborate Nativity scenes that can be found all across Italy. What might appear to be a cute gimmick, is actually a very old tradition, indeed.
Dating back to the very origins of the Christian holiday, these physical representations of the birth of “bambino Gesù", or “presepe", were popularised in Italy and now can be found throughout the globe. Find a vacation rental in Tuscany and discover the presepe dotted all over the region!
They vary in size, the material they are built with, the number of elements, people, animals, dress, and activities that are figured but the core concept is constant: the Virgin, Joseph and baby Jesus an angel presiding over everything, an ox and a donkey.
Dating back to the very origins of the Christian holiday, these physical representations of the birth of “bambino Gesù", or “presepe", were popularised in Italy and now can be found throughout the globe. Find a vacation rental in Tuscany and discover the presepe dotted all over the region!
They vary in size, the material they are built with, the number of elements, people, animals, dress, and activities that are figured but the core concept is constant: the Virgin, Joseph and baby Jesus an angel presiding over everything, an ox and a donkey.
Sometimes it is located in a manger, sometimes a cave and often features shepherds and the three wise men. Live presepe are also popular and involve solemn events where real people dress and pose in character and parade through the city streets before reaching the stable or cave that has been set up in advance of the occasion.
The earliest re-enactment of the nativity scene is said to have been by Saint Francis and who, having visited Bethlehem and been greatly inspired by his visit, asked the Pope for permission to recreate the nativity scene. Thus, in 1223, the first presepe took place in Greccio. It was set in a cave with only a manger, straw, a cow and a donkey. Soon afterward, Arnolfo di Cambio, the man responsible for Palazzo Vecchio, the Castle of Poppi and many other works in the Museo del Duomo and the Uffizi, created his own version of a nativity.
The earliest re-enactment of the nativity scene is said to have been by Saint Francis and who, having visited Bethlehem and been greatly inspired by his visit, asked the Pope for permission to recreate the nativity scene. Thus, in 1223, the first presepe took place in Greccio. It was set in a cave with only a manger, straw, a cow and a donkey. Soon afterward, Arnolfo di Cambio, the man responsible for Palazzo Vecchio, the Castle of Poppi and many other works in the Museo del Duomo and the Uffizi, created his own version of a nativity.
It was commissioned by Pope Niccolò V and began as a “bas rilievo" (attached to a wall or stone slab) but was re-worked by other artists over the years and became a “tutto tondo", or a stand alone sculpture. It is now on display at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Today, you can find presepe in every church you visit in Tuscany. These vary greatly in scale, elaboration and style but each is created with devotion to commemorating the very first Christmas.
Today, you can find presepe in every church you visit in Tuscany. These vary greatly in scale, elaboration and style but each is created with devotion to commemorating the very first Christmas.