The living tradition of nativity scenes and festively decorated Christmas trees becomes an itinerary to be discovered in the churches and palaces of Lucca's historical centre and in the villages.

A special opportunity to discover the traditional nativity scenes that have been handed down for centuries alongside small creative and contemporary nativity scenes set up in places that are always full of charm.

 

 

In the church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, the historical, the artistic, the transportable nativity scenes

 

One of Lucca's many churches and one of the best examples of the city's Baroque, Santa Maria Corteorlandini is an ancient church of early medieval foundation
From 8 December to Epiphany, the dressed nativity scene is exhibited, a rare example of a historical nativity scene from the end of the 17th century, which is distinguished by its Lucchese-made fabrics.
The Neapolitan provenance of some of the statues, particularly those depicting the people, reminds us of the great diffusion that the Perthenopean crib had in the Baroque period. Relations between Lucca and Naples had already been consolidated for some time, thanks to the silk trade and the remarkable musical tradition of both cities.

At the end of the 17th century, in the church of Santa Maria Nera, came all the theatricality of the new Neapolitan nativity scene, which tended to mix the sacred and the profane, depicting the everyday life that animated small squares, streets and alleys. Thus statues of popular characters such as beggars, tavern owners, cobblers, the humble and the derelict appeared in the nativity scene in Lucca. The mannequins in the crib of Santa Maria Nera have wooden heads and limbs, but with an iron wire core covered in tow that allows the statues to have more plastic poses. Thus, it is not only the historicity that makes it extraordinary, but also the originality of the large statues with articulated wooden joints and the beauty of the Magi's cloaks, in particular the green velvet one dating back to the early 17th century, which highlights the ancient Lucchese mastery of cloth-making.

Also in the church of Santa Maria Corteorlandini, other nativity scenes that have become a tradition are added at Christmas time.
These are the small transportable cribs that participate in the competition and for which an exhibition is set up in the central nave of the church. Everyone can admire and vote for their favourite, which will be awarded the ‘Rovaldo Taddeucci’ prize.
This year there will also be an exhibition of artistic nativity scenes by Claudio Terreni ‘Christmas in the Heart’ in the Chapel of the Snows
All the cribs in the church will be open to visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 16:00 to 18:30, from 8 December to 6 January 

 

At Villa Guinigi and Palazzo Mansi the Painted Nativity from the collection of the National Museums of Lucca.

‘With this itinerary to discover some works of art depicting the Nativity of Jesus kept inside the National Museum of Villa Guinigi, we would like to invite the entire community to visit this place, so rich in historical and artistic testimonies concerning the city and the territory, and to reflect on Christmas, that it may be one of joy and an occasion for inner renewal’.
The National Museums of Lucca will participate with a special itinerary of four paintings from different eras illustrated by the Director, Dr Luisa Berretti. A cue to seek a little Christmas and serenity in the artistic greatness of 4 authors from different eras.
The paintings belong to the collections of the two museums and are part of the heritage exhibited in the rooms of Villa Guinigi and Palazzo Mansi.
The living tradition of nativity scenes and festively decorated Christmas trees becomes an itinerary to be discovered in the churches and palaces of Lucca's historical centre and in the villages.

A special occasion to discover the traditional nativity scenes that have been handed down for centuries alongside small creative and contemporary nativity scenes set up in places that are always full of charm.

 

 

 

At the baluardo san Colombano the family nativity scene

For some years now, even the Walls of Lucca have had their own crib. It is located on the baluardo san Colombano on the lawn surrounding the old tower that protrudes from the 16th-century building.
It is set up every year by Stefano and family, who run the San Colombano café. A family tradition that, spending so many hours at work, they have carried with them. For Stefano, it is a real tradition. As a child, the preparations began a month earlier, with his five brothers and his father, a true enthusiast and collector of figurines of all kinds of shepherds or figurants, but always in the traditional guise, made by an artisan firm of Valel del Serchio, masters in the field. Of course, some were more inclined, some less so, some abandoned with time, others, like Stefano's family, have maintained and carried on the tradition, partly in homage to their grandfather.
For the setting they have documented themselves, on the architecture, all rigorously hand-built (there is also Herod's palace in the distance), and on the vegetation, to keep the reconstruction as faithful as possible. Every year some small or large modification is made, this year it was necessary to repair the hut, which was half-destroyed after years of bad weather, and there was no time to repair the stream running high up. There was no time, so it will be for next year...
If by chance you have the chance to see it, don't worry about the absence of the baby boy, who will only arrive, as tradition dictates, at the stroke of midnight on 24 December.

 

 
 

Under the loggia of Palazzo Pretorio, Francesco Zavattari's nativity scene.

A Loggiato Angelico in which, through the interweaving typical of his art, Francesco Zavattari inscribes the splendid statues of the Nativity of the historic Fontanini company in a hortus conclusus that recalls Beato Angelico's characteristic settings: a physically and conceptually protected space, a symbol of the sacredness of the scene, but also of the purity of the Virgin Mary.
This solemn moment, however, is not distant from the spectator, who can experience it in an intense and immersive way at 360 degrees.

 

 

In the church of San Benedetto in Gottella, the artistic nativity scene of the Confraternita dei Legnaioli

As is tradition, the Confraternita dei Legnaioli (Brotherhood of Woodworkers) sets up the Nativity scene in the church of San Benedetto in Gottella, in Piazza Bernardini. 
The skilful vision and direction of Prof. Adolfo Lorenzetti guides the setting up, which this year will be on a structure of about 16 square metres.
The Nativity is at the centre of the scene in the foreground inside a large grotto, and all around is a large landscape in a semicircle with glimpses of villages recalling Tuscan landscapes, with groups of cottages and characters that give movement to a scene that alternates between ‘day-night’ phases, rich in lights that illuminate the scene immersed in a dominant blue during the night phase.
Music in the background creates a poetic atmosphere, calling everyone to reflect on the unique event that is the Nativity. 
The Nativity scene will be inaugurated on Saturday 14 December. 
On 16 November at 5.30 p.m., restorer Laura Del Muratore will illustrate her restoration work on the statue of St Joseph and the characteristics of her intervention, followed by a talk by Dr Vincenzo Lombardi on the theme: St Joseph the man of dreams.  

 

In the gunboat of San Frediano, Fiat Pax, the traditional crib

‘Let Peace triumph! Fiat Pax, Bellum cessat!
A small Nativity scene in the Artillery Basement of the Walls organised by the Historica Lucense historical re-enactment association with old plaster figurines in an antiquated setting composed of abandoned instruments of war to signify the tragic nature of warlike violence and a small Nativity scene surrounded by fruits and objects in common use in work and among the furnishings of old houses to signify the Blessing of the Christ Born on the peaceful activities of good living, 
The Nativity, in any case placed at the centre of a ‘scene’ that leads back to an appropriate setting for a historical setting such as the Underground, intensely linked to the original activity of the Corps of Bombardiers of the Walls, will be in place from mid-December until the first Sunday after Epiphany.
The Nativity will be surmounted by a cartouche bearing the Latin motto ‘REX REGUM - DOMINUS DOMINANTIUM’ (King of Kings, Ruler of Rulers).

 

 

 

In Ombreglio, the village cribs

A small village perched on a spur amidst the woods of the pre-Apennines, in the Brancoli area known for its precious Romanesque parish churches and for the traces left by the Gothic Line, perfect if you are in the mood for fresh air, wide landscapes and winter. At Ombreglio di Brancoli, the nativity scene is not only a tradition, but an opportunity to get together and share the most intimate atmospheres of Christmas.
The cribs are set up outdoors and in the gardens, and constitute an itinerary that can be visited from 8 December to 12 January.
On 15 December, to be all together, from 2 pm to late afternoon, necci and mondine, crèpes, mulled wine and fantastic homemade cakes with beaks are baked to offer to villagers and guests who want to visit the village and see the cribs.