Define your itinerary of picturesque Cribs in Western Liguria

Don't forget to stroll among the beautiful villages and hamlets in Liguria, define your itinerary to discover renowned and hidden Nativity Scenes, and, while there, enjoy delicious local food, rich history, unique architecture and more. 

One can find so many Cribs, some true works of art, strolling along coast and inland villages and towns. Some of them are impressive living nativities, linked to old traditions as the history of acting the sacred representation, in Liguria, is ancient and related to rural history, some of them mechanic, or artistic heritage.

Here is but a limited list:

District of Imperia:

The Nativity scene tradition in Imperia is ancient and rooted to old traditions. The variety is remarkable: artistic nativity scenes, life-size statues, living nativities, nativities set up on fishing boats or set in an urban context.

Here some of the must see:

• Basilica of San Maurizio in Imperia with statues from 1890
• Sant'Agata Parish Church with a mechanical nativity scene
• Taggia where the city itself becomes the nativity scene, with scenes set in churches, street corners, alleys
• Olivastri, near Chiusavecchia where the nativity scene is set up in an old oven
• Montegrosso Pianlatte with life-size statues
• Isolabona where the nativity scene becomes an opportunity to rediscover the ancient crafts
• Diano Castello with a nativity scene competition
• Triora, with some valuable statues (attributed to the school of Maragliano) exposed in the Ethnographic Museum
• Ranzo famous for its living nativity scene on the 24th in the Bacelaga area

District of Savona:

Savona and its surroundings are famous in the world for the 500-year-old ceramic art tradition. This art reached its peak between the seventeenth and eighteenth century, when Albisola masters opened ceramics factories throughout Europe. Vases, plates, tiles, decorations still represent one of the highlights in the Riviera. And, before Christmas, one can discover many nativity scenes with ceramic figurines which keep alive the ancient Italian tradition of the Christmas nativity scene.

Here some of the must see:

• Fortezza del Priamar in Savona: traditional nativity scene
• Arciconfraternita della Santissima Trinità in Savona: mechanical nativity scene
• Old Council Chambers of the City of Albenga
• San Nicolò Church in Albisola Superiore
• San Matteo Church in Albissola Marina
• Rectory of San Lorenzo Church in Murialdo: mechanical nativity scene
• Roccavignale, historic downtown: the whole town comes alive for three evenings from 22nd to 24th.
• Sassello, historic downtown, “Behind the window” Nativity scenes
• Toirano, historic downtown, Nativity scenes itinerary
• Vado Ligure living Nativity scene
• Varazze Sant'Anna Chapel: artisan crafted stone Nativity Scene
• Orco Feglino, living nativity scene on the 24th and 25th in the historic downtown