Nativity scenes in Milan and Lombardy: the most beautiful to visit

What are the most beautiful nativity scenes to visit in Milan and, more generally, in Lombardy? In this article, the CityDoorMilano.it team will take you to discover one of the most magical things of the Christmas period, the Nativity scene.

Born from an idea of St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 and represented for the first time in Greccio, a town in Lazio in the province of Rieti, it still represents a very important moment for many Italian families as well as a national tradition.

NATIVITY SCENE IN MILAN

• Presepe Biblico di Baggio
• Presepe di carta di Francesco Londonio
• Presepi etnici a Palazzo Lombardia
• Presepe di Villa Arconati (Castellazzo di Bollate)
• Presepe di Augusto Rosetta (Abbiategrasso)
• Mostra dei Presepi a Villa Litta (Lainate)

NATIVITY SCENE "BIBLICO DI BAGGIO"

Born thanks to Egidio Negrini in 1963, the Biblical Nativity of Baggio is one of the most famous works dedicated to the Nativity in Italy. The man, who died in 1993, built the incredible work in the 350 m2 underground hall of the church of Sant'Apollinare in Baggio together with some friends, using waste material given the economic constraints. The inspiration for the Nativity came from the words of the then young biblical scholar Carlo Maria Martini during a spiritual retreat at the hermitage of San Salvatore in Erba and over the years, from the opening scene of the Nativity, there would be fifty-five scenes for a total of over 3,000 figurines. In the mid-nineties, the historic Biblical Nativity scene was dismantled for safety reasons, and today in its new guise it has fifty-two dioramas of fine workmanship. The visit is free. Opening hours: every Sunday in December 2021 from 3 to 6.30 pm, hours that will also be maintained from 25 December 2021 to 9 January 2022. Click here to find out more about the Biblical Nativity of Baggio.

PAPER NATIVITY SCENE "LONDONIO"

Let's now pass to the paper nativity scene made by Francesco Londonio (1723-1783), scenographer of the Teatro alla Scala under Maria Theresa of Austria. Recently entered into the collections of the Diocesan Museum thanks to the donation of Anna Maria Bagatti Valsecchi, it is made up of sixty characters painted in tempera or oil on shaped cardboard with a variable height between 35 and 60 centimeters. Called "Nativity of Gernetto", given its origin from Villa Gernetto in Lesmo, it will be visible until February 6, 2022. For more info on the possibility of visiting the nativity scene (edited by Alessia Devitini and Nadia Righi), visit the page dedicated to the Nativity paper.

ETHNIC NATIVITY SCENE AT PALAZZO LOMBARDIA

From 2 December 2021 to 9 January 2022, Palazzo Lombardia hosts the exhibition of "Ethnic Nativity Scenes" curated by the Order of the Capuchin Friars Minor. Twenty different representations and fourteen small showcases containing nativity scenes from all over the world can be visited in the wing dedicated to the IsolaSet - Temporary Exhibition Space in piazza Città di Lombardia 2. Admission is free from Monday to Friday from 11am to 7pm.

NATIVITY SCENE AT VILLA ARCONATI

Villa Arconati in Castellazzo di Bollate hosts twelve nativity scenes on the ground floor of the south east wing. Handcrafted by the members of the Italian Association of Friends of the Crib (Milan - Lainate), they are part of an artistic journey that unfolds in four rooms. The first includes the theme of open-air nativity scenes, the second of the subjects of popular tradition and rural life, the third of the diorama and the fourth of paper nativity scenes. Here is the Villa Arconati website.

NATIVITY OF AUGUSTO ROSETTA IN ABBIATEGRASSO

Until 6 January 2022 it will be possible to visit the "Traditional Augusto Rosetta Nativity" at the Visconteo Castle of Abbiategrasso. The large green park between via Mozart and via Della Noce was recently named after Rosetta, who passed away in 2001, as a sign of gratitude for the action carried out in the historical, social and cultural fields.

EXHIBITION OF NATIVITIES AT VILLA LITTA 

Villa Litta (Lainate) hosts the traditional "Exhibition of Nativity Scenes", this year dedicated to the figure of San Giuseppe. Giuseppe's life has been reproduced in over forty works, all handcrafted. Among the peculiarities, we point out the work "Not all ... I am San Giuseppe" by Annalisa Cozzi, focused on domestic violence against women, a "Last Supper" made in cross stitch and a patchwork nativity scene. Find out more on the Villa Litta Lainate website.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER MOST BEAUTIFUL NATIVITY SCENE IN LOMBARDY?

• Dalmine (Bergamo): exhibition at the historic via di Borgo Palazzo and the Brembo Nativity Scene Museum (until 10 January 2022)
• Gromo (Bergamo): event "Gromo, the village of cribs" until 6 January 2022
• Borgo di Bagolino (Brescia): over one hundred nativity scenes across the country (until 6 January 2022)
• Vione (Brescia): event "The Village Nativity" (until January 9, 2022)
• Presepe vivente di Valle di Sarezzo (Brescia): from 26 December 2021 to 6 January 2022
• Presepe sul fiume Mella a Marcheno (Brescia)
• Grande Presepio Meccanico di Caino (Brescia): till 9 January 2022
• Desenzano del Garda (Brescia): two events will be hosted. One is the "Floating Nativity" (photo below) in the frame of the Porto Vecchio, while the other concerns the exhibition "The Nativity in the sign of tradition and popular creativity" at the G. B. Bosio Civic Gallery until January 16, 2022
• Cernobbio (Como): 45 paper nativity scenes are visible in the windows of some shops. In addition, Villa Bernasconi hosts the exhibition "On the silk thread: the tradition of the Neapolitan nativity scene embraces Lake Como" by the contemporary artist Giuseppe Ercolano
• Monza: collection of nativity scenes at the Civic Gallery until 9 January 2022 (free admission)
• Val Masino (Sondrio): on the territory of the valley is organized the review "Walking for cribs" until January 9, 2022
• Bormio (Sondrio): the Civic Museum hosts the exhibition "Presepi al Museo" until 8 January 2022
• Varese - luoghi UNESCO e Sacro Monte: until 9 January 2022 you can visit the Nativities present in these suggestive places
• Laveno - Mombello (Varese): more than forty sculptures are part of the "Submerged Nativity" in the waters of Lake Maggiore (Piazza Caduti del Lavoro area).
  
  

We also invite you to read the specials on CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN MILAN and on CHRISTMAS CONCERTS IN MILAN.