Ciao and Buon Natale! Merry Christmas from Roma! {#5 in the series}
Dear Reader, This is #5 in our series of travelogues all around Italy, the UK, and Ireland from October 2024 through June 2025. This one features the famous and often ingenious nativity scenes of the Vatican. Enjoy!
[Post 1 Venice Pilgrimage, Post 2 Southern Italy Pilgrimage, Post 3 Sicily Pilgrimage, Post 4 Eastern Sicily Pilgrimage]
Hello! This Christmas we will leave you with some of the lovely and fascinating images of the Holy Family we have encountered, many of which are from the Vatican’s annual “100 Presepi” (Vatican nativity scene exhibition) from around the world. The ones with yellow cards are from the exhibition, the rest are from Roman churches or as indicated.
Our postcard shot from the Vatican with the 88-foot-tall Christmas tree in the background!
Our first-ever vertical nativity from the exhibition. From Hungary.
Made from coral!
At the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. Perfect for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
Miniature made in Sicily.
From Sanctuario della Divina Misericordia.
From San Giuseppe alla Lungara church that we happened upon last night. It’s a close-up of an 8-ft.-wide scene. Most nativities in Italian churches are very large and intricate, mirroring the dress and other aspects of the region or village in olden times. In Rome, these presepi often reflect the local culture and regional dress rather than traditional Bethlehem styles. (Traditionally, they do not place the Christ child in the manger until Christmas.)
A mosaic of semi-precious stones!
Haut-relief from Santa Maria della Vittoria church.
Note the detailed village in the background!
Vatican firefighters got in on the fun.
Let’s call this one Perspective. From the exhibition.
May blessings and peace from the Prince of Peace be yours this Christmas.
