The new rental Maserati Levante to admire the best nativity scenes in Italy

With the arrival of December, we set out in search of the most beautiful expressions of this ancient art form, as well as evocative symbol of Christmas, accompanied by the powerful and performative Maserati Levante GT. Curious, artistic, iconic, magical, eccentric, enchanting: here is our selection of the best nativity scenes in Italy, from the Alps to the tip of the boot, from the peaks of Trentino-Alto Adige to the waters of the Riviera Romagnola.

Nativity scenes in Italy: where does tradition come from?

It was 1223 when Saint Francis of Assisi went to Greccio, in the province of Rieti, where he decided to represent the Nativity by building a manger in a wood cave. It is here that the first living nativity scene in Italy was born and the tradition that still today represents the symbol of Christmas all over the world came to life. And right here, a few steps from Rieti, every year is organized at the foot of the sanctuary carved into the rock a suggestive representation of the Nativity with characters in medieval clothes for what is celebrated as the oldest living nativity scene in Italy and in the world.

The best nativity scenes in Italy by the sea and the Maserati Levante GT

One of the most important famous nativity scenes in Italy is the crib of Lignano Sabbiadoro, now in its nineteenth edition, entirely made with the sand of the famous maritime town of Friuli at the square of the Terrazza a Mare nicknamed for the occasion "Christmas Square". Travelling along the Adriatic coast on board your rental Maserati Levante, you can go down to Cesenatico, in Emilia-Romagna, where the nativity scene of the Marineria is almost 40 years old. The evocative floating nativity scene is set up aboard the historic ships of the Floating Marine Museum, moored in the canal designed by Leonardo Da Vinci, with life-size statues that evoke the Nativity through the life of a small fishing village. Visit it with the evening lights to admire the lighting show set up on the boats. Continuing to wander along the Romagna Riviera with the new Maserati Levante GTS you can find many other nativity scenes with a maritime theme that will surprise you, from the sandy one in Rimini to the one made with the salt of the salt pans of Cervia. But also Venice has its special representation floating placid on the waters that embrace the island of Burano, a real work of art in the open air carved by hand for all residents and tourists of the lagoon. The best time to visit it? The sunset, with the sun setting against the background of the crib.

Finally, from Lake Maggiore to the waters of Liguria we find two other famous nativity scenes in Italy: the sunken crib of Laveno-Mombello, with life-size stone statues anchored at three meters deep in the lake, visible thanks to amazing plays of light and water, and the bright nativity scene of Manarola (Cinque Terre) with its eight kilometres of electric cables and over 17,000 bulbs. Thanks to these numbers, the crib of the Cinque Terre is present in the Guinness Book of Records and is strictly ecological, powered by a photovoltaic system built ad hoc and made with recycled materials. Both are to be admired with the darkness of the evening to appreciate the enchanting lighting.

The most famous living crib in Italy comes to life among the stones

It is impossible to think of a journey through the wonders of Italian craftsmanship without passing by Matera. Let the Maserati Levante GTS take you to the city of stones to discover a truly magical nativity scene in Italy. In Matera, during the Christmas period, the Rione Sassi offers an inimitable historical glimpse as the perfect setting of an entire village that hosts the Nativity, with over three hundred appearances among professional actors and cultural associations of Southern Italy. Moving on to Abruzzo, another amazing living crib in Italy is located in the heart of the Maiella National Park. The representation "Living Nativity: in Pacentro as in Bethlehem" animates this small village with an atmosphere suspended in time that is wonderfully suited to the re-enactment of the Nativity.

The best cribs in Italy: all the unmissable

Home to this ancient art form of reality in miniature, the whole of Italy is rich in celebrations and representations of the Nativity that deserve a visit during the period of the holidays. Jump aboard the new Maserati Levante GT and go hunting for the most exciting cribs in Italy, from north to south, from living to robotic ones, made of ice, bread, and lights, set up under the snow or on the seabed.

• In San Gregorio Armeno (Naples), also known as "the street of cribs", you will find the most eccentric and original side of Christmas, made not only of sacred figures but also of celebrities from the world of sport, politics, entertainment and much more;
• In Turin, you can surprise your children with the crib by Emanuele Luzzati, famous for the delicate combination of the protagonists of the Christian sacred tradition and the magical characters of fairy tales;
• Massa Martana (Perugia) hosts a nativity scene almost unique, with life-size statues carved in ice and preserved in a room maintained at -18 C;
• The giant crib of Marchetto every year occupies the squares, streets and gardens of the ancient village of Mosso (Biella), it is an hour-long route covering ten kilometres. The effect is surprising and visitors come to mingle with the characters along the way to the cave of the Nativity;
• The crib of Olmedo (Sardinia) is entirely made of bread, from the setting to the characters, and is made by women bakers in the area;
• In Custonaci (Sicily) is organized a large event with cultural tours and concerts to serve as a backdrop to the living crib, which has about 150 interpreters between artisans and peasants;
• The living crib of Equi Terme (Massa Carrara) is considered by many the most evocative of all Tuscany, with a path dotted with torches and candles to the famous Grotta di Equi, set up for the occasion as a Nativity hut.

In each region, you will encounter different traditions and customs that make every single realization unique. What are you waiting to book our rental Maserati Levante to discover the most magical nativity scenes in Italy and live an unforgettable Christmas?