100 Presepi in Vaticano

A nativity exhibition in the heart of Christendom

100 Presepi in Vaticano is the international exhibition of nativity scenes that transforms the left arm of Bernini's Colonnade in St. Peter's Square into an open-air gallery every winter. Promoted by the Dicastery for Evangelization, the event complements the monumental nativity scene and the Christmas tree set up in the center of the square, and in just a few years, it has become one of the most visited Christmas attractions in Rome and the entire Lazio region.

The formula is simple yet powerful: around a hundred nativity scenes—often more—created by artists, artisans, associations, parishes, and schools from all over the world, displayed side by side under Bernini's columns. Visitors can walk a few meters and move from an 18th-century Neapolitan-style nativity to one carved from African wood, or from an Andean fabric nativity to one made from recycled materials or contemporary designs. It is a visual exercise that demonstrates, without the need for words, how deeply the Nativity story belongs to cultures far removed from one another.

From Sala Pio X to the Colonnade

The exhibition is the successor to the historic «100 Presepi» show hosted for decades in the spaces near Via della Conciliazione; since 2018, the Dicastery for Evangelization has curated this Vatican edition. The move under the Colonnade changed the scale of the event: it is no longer just a destination for enthusiasts, but now meets the continuous flow of pilgrims and tourists crossing St. Peter's Square, with attendance numbers exceeding 290,000 in recent editions.

How to visit

Participation is free and open to all. Those who create nativity scenes can apply each year by filling out the online form on the official website, usually between June 1st and September 30th; a committee from the Dicastery reviews the proposals and notifies the authors via email. The selected works then arrive in the Vatican for the setup, which is inaugurated on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

What to see

• Over one hundred nativity scenes from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, with about twenty countries represented.
• Diverse materials and techniques: terracotta, wood, papier-mâché, ceramic, fabric, glass, metal, and recycled materials.
• Professional works alongside school projects: the selection intentionally blends fine craftsmanship, community works, and educational projects.
• The setting: the visit naturally combines with the monumental nativity scene and the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square.

When to go

The exhibition opens every year on December 8th and remains open until the first days of January, spanning the Epiphany. The usual hours are continuous, from morning to evening, with early closures on December 24th and 31st. The best times for a quiet visit are early weekday mornings: on weekends and during the holidays, the square is very crowded, especially near the Sunday Angelus.

A Roman Christmas tradition

In the capital's Christmas calendar, 100 Presepi in Vaticano occupies a special place: it is neither a market nor a show, but a free, open-air exhibition that can be toured in half an hour and works perfectly for children. For many Roman families, it has become a fixed stop alongside a stroll along Via della Conciliazione, while for foreign visitors, it is often their first encounter with the Italian nativity tradition—a tradition that continues to renew itself every December, from Naples to Bologna, and from Sicily to the Alps.