Marchetto's Giant Nativity Scene, with 200 life-size figures, is one of the largest in Italy

Marchetto's Giant Nativity Scene, in Piemonte, is one of the largest life-size nativity scenes in Italy. Set up in the historic center of Mosso, in the province of Biella, it attracts numerous visitors every year. The characters reproduced in the exhibition, with their costumes and work tools, tell the local history and traditions of the past.

The nativity scene, displayed along a signposted route, which develops along the streets and in the most characteristic corners of the historic centre, it can be visited for free until 7 January 2024, every day, from 10am to 22pm.

It recalls the life of the past

Inside Marchetto's Giant Nativity scene you can admire around 200 life-size figures, dressed in clothes from the early 900s, recalling the life of the past which is expressed through ancient crafts, neighborly relationships, family, the ancient shops, the cellars, life in the fields, farming.

Walking through the places that host it, you enter a real open-air ethnographic museum, which offers the opportunity to closely observe how life took place in this village a century ago. The nativity scene is immersed in this wonderful setting, where history can be experienced first-hand and mixes with local traditions and culture, before which one always remains in religious contemplation. Here, the Christmas atmosphere also reminds us of the simple yet profound faith of the past. Furthermore, visitors, especially in the evening, mingling with the characters of the nativity scene, have the impression of being an integral part of it.

It occupies an area of ​​12 thousand meters

The Giant Nativity Scene, now in its 36th edition, was born in 1980. The exhibition occupies an area of ​​12 thousand meters and runs along a route of 800 metres. The performance is an invitation to experience the magic of Christmas by combining it with the flavors of tradition. For those who go to visit the nativity scene on the evening of December 24th, a torchlight walk through the historic streets of the town is planned, and the lighting of the large bonfire at 21 pm. On January 30th, however, to the delight of the little ones, the Befana will arrive at the Nativity scene, to cheer up the day of celebration.

(Photo: Marchetto Giant Nativity Scene, Facebook Page)