Borgalino Living Nativity

A living nativity in the heart of Borgalino

During the Christmas season, the ancient Borgalino district—known in the local dialect as "Brualinu"—becomes the natural stage for one of the most evocative living nativity scenes in the province of Agrigento. In Canicattì, a city in the heart of Sicily, the narrow streets of Via Carlo Pisacane and Via Corbo, with their alleys, arches, and courtyards, are adorned with lights, fires, and traditional crafts, taking visitors on a journey back in time.

The tradition of Li Tri Re

The event is curated by the Li Tri Re Association, which draws its roots from an ancient tradition: the Li Tri Re Festival was founded in 1870 by the blacksmith Luigi Antinoro, who established a committee at the Church of Santo Spirito to honor the Three Wise Men. Since then, the re-enactment has been renewed every year, weaving together faith, folklore, and local memory in one of the most cherished winter events in Canicattì.

Workshops, crafts, and flavors of the past

Along the nativity route, set up among ancient houses and caves in the village, artisan workshops come to life, showcasing traditional crafts and scenes of rural life from days gone by. Visitors can also enjoy tastings of local Sicilian peasant specialties: eggs, ricotta, pani cunzatu, chickpeas, cannoli, and wine, offered along the way.

January 6th: The Li Tri Re Festival

The climax of the event coincides with Epiphany: on January 6th, the historical pageant of the Three Wise Men parades through the city, featuring the meeting of the Magi, King Herod's court reconstructed in Piazza IV Novembre, and the Nativity performance at the Church of Santo Spirito in Piazza Indipendenza. It is a day of great popular participation that brings the Christmas festivities in Canicattì to a close.

The Borgalino Living Nativity is a free event, immersed in the authentic atmosphere of Canicattì's historic center, in the heart of Sicily.