A guide to Christmas cribs and Nativity scenes to visit in Rome over the 2025 festive season.
100 Presepi
The 2025 edition of 100 Presepi, Rome’s international nativity crib exhibition, will take place under the colonnade in St Peter’s Square from 8 December until 6 January 2026. The annual exhibition hosts more than 100 Nativity scenes from Italy and other countries around the world. In addition to contemporary reproductions of traditional 18th-century Neapolitan and Sicilian cribs, and 19th-century Roman mangers, there are modern versions made from wood, papier-mâché and terracotta, as well as unconventional materials such as sand, rice and metal.
Vatican Nativity scene
Vatican Nativity scene 2024
This Christmas in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican’s Nativity scene will come from the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese in Italy’s southern Campania region. The Nativity scene will incorporate elements and traditions typical of the Nocera area, including references to local spiritual figures, shepherds and fishermen. Two zampognari bagpipers will provide musical accompaniment to the scene which will be dominated by a large luminous comet whose tail takes the shape of an anchor.
In St Peter’s Square tonight, the Vatican evokes the first living Nativity scene created by St Francis in Greccio 800 years ago, with life-size terracotta figures dressed in 13th-century attire. pic.twitter.com/nm2SF1ikBB— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) December 9, 2023
The crib scene, which will be set up beside the Vatican’s Christmas tree – a 27-metre-high spruce tree from the Ultimo valley in Bolzano – is due to be inaugurated on 6 December.
SS. Cosma e Damiano
One of Rome’s most magical Nativity scenes to visit at Christmas (and all year round) is at the church of SS. Cosma e Damiano beside the Roman Forum.
Epic Nativity scene at SS. Cosma e Damiano near the Colosseum. #Rome pic.twitter.com/Tv0ZE0a9ir— Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) December 12, 2021
This monumental Neapolitan Nativity scene features a vast number of wooden and ceramic figures including shepherds, artisans and street vendors.
Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
The oldest sculptural nativity in the world can be found at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, where Pope Francis is buried, near the central Termini station. Artist Arnolfo di Cambio was commissioned by Pope Niccolò V to create the marble figurines between 1290 and 1291. The Franciscan pope was inspired by St Francis of Assisi, creator of the first living nativity, in Greccio, in 1223.
Piazza di Spagna
Photo Sovrintendenza Capitolina Roma
Rome traditionally sets up a large Nativity scene in Piazza di Spagna*, at the foot of the Spanish Steps, the work of artist Angelo Urbani del Fabbretto with the collaboration of Vincenzo Confidati. Inaugurated in 1965, the crib scene reproduces a corner of Rome animated by characters dressed in 19th-century attire. Pasquino the talking statue also makes an appearance. *To be confirmed for 2025.
Santa Maria in Via
A traditional-style crib can be found each year in the church of Santa Maria in Via off Largo Chigi, in the city centre, which for the last six decades has housed the work of Italian members of the global crib-building association Amici del Presepio.
Street cleaners’ crib
A more unusual manger scene can be found near St Peter’s on Via dei Cavalleggeri 5. The street cleaner’s crib, owned and cared for by Rome’s rubbish collection company AMA, has a floor containing over 1,400 different stones brought by pilgrims from all over the world. Founded 50 years ago, the presepe dei netturbini can be visited for free by appointment.
