Nativity scenes in Florence and surroundings

The tradition of nativity scenes is also very popular in the Florence metropolitan area. Every year, traditional and innovative nativity scenes are set up in the municipalities of the area, using a variety of materials and creativity. This itinerary, which is by no means exhaustive, suggests visits to some of the most interesting and unusual nativity scenes in the metropolitan area.

The first stop is Piazza del Duomo in Florence, where every year the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore sets up a life-size terracotta nativity scene created by Luigi Mariani and the Mital kiln in Impruneta.

Continuing among the municipalities in the Florentine belt, we find the nativity scene of Santa Maria in Campi Bisenzio, which covers an area of 300 square metres, then in Signa, with the artistic nativity scene set up in the church of San Miniato, reproduced to scale in the nativity scene itself, and with the straw nativity scene that we can admire in the Civic Museum of Straw and Weaving, dedicated to this craft tradition. We continue with two nativity scenes in Impruneta: the traditional one, in terracotta, by Luigi Mariani, and a more innovative nativity scene on the theme of peace created by Mauro Matteuzzi. In Rignano sull'Arno, the Nativity is represented with wooden figures by the Popolo del Rione La Torre, while in Reggello, the traditional nativity scene is set up by the Croce Azzurra ODV.

Moving south, in the Empolese Valdelsa area, we find artistic nativity scenes in Capraia e Limite, with its animated multi-scene nativity scene, in Castelfiorentino, where there are 40 nativity scenes, which can be visited thanks to the event called ‘La Via dei presepi’, and in Cerreto Guidi, where the ‘Via dei Presepi di Cerreto Guidi’ offers, among other things, a very special crocheted nativity scene. The tour continues in Montaione, where the village of Iano hosts dozens of nativity scenes created by the inhabitants, and in Vinci, with the traditional artistic nativity scene of Petroio, which covers the entire hill. Finally, in Gambassi Terme, at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Montignoso, the artistic nativity scene is permanently on display, while Fucecchio stages “Natalia, the village of Father Christmas” every year.

In Mugello, we find the ‘Thousand nativity scenes of Palazzuolo sul Senio’, which enliven the narrow streets of the village, and finally, the nativity scene at the Pieve di San Pietro, which sets the scene of the Nativity in the village of San Piero a Sieve.

The opening hours of the individual nativity scenes are indicated in the attached brochure.