One of the Christmas traditions in Italy is the display of intricate and creative Nativity scenes in public spaces. These displays are usually small, but still beautiful and magical. However, this year, Rome is going all out with a new exhibition at Rivista delle Nazioni, called “100 Nativity Scenes”.
The Nativity exhibition is being organised by the “Magazine of Nations” and pays tribute to the idea of journalist Manlio Menaglia, who, in 1976, wanted to revive the typically Italian tradition of the Nativity scene at Christmas time with fresh and creative exhibits.
Visitors to the displays have the opportunity, through the great variety, to deepen their knowledge of the creativity of the Nativity scene, and perhaps even understand a little more of the Italian Christmas culture. However, the exhibition is not only limited to Nativity cribs made by Italian artists as among the 150 cribs, 40 have been designed oversees of Italy, with 13 created by Italians craftsmen.
There are a selection of cribs and Nativity scenes on display, including hand-painted terracotta and majolica tile, carved linden wood, baked clay, raku ceramic, plaster, cardboard and cork. But there are many other more unusual styles, for example those with black clay, African mahogany, Baccarat crystal, natural coloured pasta, glazed pottery, bricks, horse hair, copper wires and Macaranga grandifolia (the Nasturtium Tree from the Philippines). There are also a selection of cribs made with precious materials, such as gold leaf, jewels and pearls (including mother of pearl), as well as natural varieties made with bamboo leaves, corn, straw, pasta and rice – all of which show the great skills involved in creating cribs for Nativity scenes and also the great imagination required in designed such creative pieces.
Opening hours
Every day between 10am and 8pm, with the ticket office closeing at 7.30pm.
It is also open on December 8th, December 25th to 26th, 1st and 6th January.
For more information, please visit their website: www.rivistadellenazioni.it.
