I Presepi del Trentino

FRA ARTE, TRADIZIONE E SOLIDARIETÀ

P.zza S. Pietro
Presepe
Città del Vaticano - Braccio Carlo Magno
Mostra dei presepi Trentini

Open every day 10 - 19; wednesday 14 - 19

Christmas 2007 will see repetition of the project involving the collaboration of the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Vatican. After the success of the nativity scene presented last year in St Peter's Square in Rome, Trentino will once again be the protagonist in setting up the scene, the most significant aspect of the Christian Christmas, in the square which is the symbol of the Catholic faith.

Master wood-carvers from Tesero have carved the figures, animals and settings, dealing with every detail in the setting of the life-size nativity scene. This year the representation of the nativity will see reproduction of the house in Nazareth, situated between the carpenter's workshop of St Joseph, the oven and an inn typical of the era.

However, every aspect of Trentino traditions will be represented this year in the exhibition set up in the Carlo Magno wing. The artefacts, paintings and reconstructions of frescoes displayed in the exhibition come from all over the province. With the support of the Ministry for the Cultural Heritage and the collaboration of the municipalities, Trentino parishes and private citizens, the exhibition dedicated to the nativity underlines the traditions and the devotion of the Trentino people to the mystery of the birth of Jesus and his sacrifice for man.

The materials used to represent the nativity are typical of the traditions of a mountainous area and thus the ash, stone pine, pine and linden wood, the characteristics of the houses and huts and the setting for the nativity scene are an expression of the typical features of the mountain landscape. The statues are almost always unique examples, carved and sculpted by master craftsmen, who often began their career thanks to popular devotion to nativity scenes, particularly heartfelt in Trentino.

As a demonstration of Trentino traditions, for the full duration of the exhibition (18 December 2007 - 2 February 2008) it will be possible to observe master craftsmen at work in the creation of a nativity scene. Indeed, a succession of nine wood-carvers from Trentino will alternate during the period of the exhibition in front of the Carlo Magno wing, which hosts the exhibition.