Calatafimi-Segesta Living Nativity
The Bethlehem of two thousand years ago comes to life in the ancient Li Ficareddi district
About Calatafimi Living Nativity
A living nativity in the heart of Western Sicily
The Calatafimi-Segesta Living Nativity is one of the most anticipated Christmas events in the province of Trapani. Every year, between late December and Epiphany, the ancient Spanish quarter of Li Ficareddi—one of the most picturesque corners of the village, with its narrow alleys and stone houses—dresses up and transforms into a vivid reconstruction of the Bethlehem of two thousand years ago. The event is organized by the Cultural Association «Calatafimi è», which has involved the entire community in a great collective effort for over a decade.
Over 200 actors and forty stations
The route winds along the narrow streets of the district, illuminated by the warm glow of torches, and features about forty stations animated by over 200 actors in faithfully reproduced period costumes. The ancient dwellings, built using local reeds and wood, host scenes of daily life: women busy in the kitchen and with manual labor, washerwomen, and the scribe. Along the way, you will encounter the workshops of ancient trades, where coppersmiths, stonemasons, blacksmiths, shipwrights, carpenters, pot menders, and basket weavers demonstrate the techniques and tools of the Sicilian artisan tradition live.
The Nativity and the atmosphere of the village
The spiritual heart of the nativity is the Nativity grotto, with the Holy Family accompanied by the ox and the donkey, shepherds, children, and angels. The representation turns into an authentic sensory journey, made of scents, sounds, colors, and music, where faith, popular traditions, and the rural memory of the territory intertwine. Christmas melodies and the sound of bagpipers accompany visitors along the entire route.
An event for families and visitors
The Calatafimi-Segesta Living Nativity is an event designed for everyone, from families to tourists visiting Western Sicily, just a few kilometers from the famous Greek temple of Segesta. The ticket office is located in Piazza Torre. Due to its scenographic care and strong roots in the community of the Municipality of Calatafimi-Segesta, it is considered one of the most beautiful and evocative living nativities in the province of Trapani and all of Sicily.
Calatafimi Living Nativity — edition 2026
11th edition (2025/2026)
The eleventh edition of the Calatafimi-Segesta Living Nativity was held over six evenings between Christmas and Epiphany: December 26, 27, and 28, 2025, and January 3, 4, and 6, 2026, from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The ancient Li Ficareddi district welcomed over 200 actors distributed across forty stations: workshops of coppersmiths, stonemasons, blacksmiths, shipwrights, carpenters, pot menders, and basket weavers, alongside domestic scenes with women in the kitchen, washerwomen, and the scribe. The route, illuminated by torches, led visitors to the Nativity grotto with the Holy Family, the ox, and the donkey.
The entrance ticket was 8 euros, with free access for children under 8; the ticket office was set up in Piazza Torre. For groups of more than 20 people, booking was mandatory.
Programme Calatafimi Living Nativity 2026
Six evenings of performance (December 26-28, 2025 and January 3, 4, 6, 2026), from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, in the ancient Li Ficareddi district:
- Forty stations animated by over 200 actors in period costumes
- Workshops of ancient trades: coppersmith, stonemason, blacksmith, shipwright, carpenter, pot mender, basket weaver
- Scenes of daily life: women in the kitchen and manual labor, washerwomen, scribe
- Nativity grotto with the Holy Family, ox, donkey, shepherds, and angels
- Route illuminated by torches with Christmas music and melodies
Highlights Calatafimi Living Nativity 2026
- Over 200 actors in costume
- 40 stations and ancient trade workshops
- Alleys illuminated by torches in the ancient Li Ficareddi district
- Nativity grotto with the Holy Family
Prices Calatafimi Living Nativity 2026
Practical information — Calatafimi Living Nativity
How to get there
Calatafimi-Segesta can be reached by car from the A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorway, taking the Segesta-Calatafimi exit. The nearest train station is in Calatafimi on the line to Trapani; the reference airport is Trapani-Birgi (Vincenzo Florio), followed by Palermo-Punta Raisi.
District and ticket office
The event takes place in the ancient Li Ficareddi district (entrance from Via Roma 13). The ticket office is located in Piazza Torre and is open from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Practical tips
Comfortable shoes are recommended for the route through the alleys; the use of strollers is discouraged. Accessibility for visitors with disabilities is guaranteed up to the Nativity Grotto. For groups of more than 20 people, booking is mandatory (tel. +39 379 1038230).
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Where does it take place — Calatafimi Living Nativity
Antico quartiere Li Ficareddi
Quartiere Li Ficareddi, Via Roma 13, 91013 Calatafimi-Segesta