Christmas in the Village / Custonaci Living Nativity

A living nativity in the heart of a cave

The Custonaci Living Nativity is one of the most anticipated Christmas events in Western Sicily. The scene unfolds inside the Grotta Mangiapane, a prehistoric cavern roughly eighty meters high, seventy deep, and thirteen wide, located in Contrada Scurati in the municipality of Custonaci, province of Trapani. Inside the cave lies a small rock-hewn village of houses built directly into the stone, inhabited by shepherds and farmers until the mid-20th century: a unique natural setting that serves as the stage for the Nativity.

The history: from 1983 to today

The first performance dates back to Christmas 1983, born from the intuition of the then-parish priest, Father Rosario Vanella, who chose to celebrate Mass right inside the cave. Since then, the nativity has grown to become the largest event celebrating the region's folk traditions. Due to its cultural and identity-forming value, it has been listed in the Sicilian Region's register of intangible heritage since 2006.

Performers and ancient crafts

Hundreds of performers, strictly in period attire, recreate the daily life of rural Sicily at the end of the 19th century. Among the stone houses, you will meet artisans at work: bread, cheese, oil, and ceramics are produced on-site, while the air fills with the sound of blacksmiths' hammers, the songs of bagpipers, and the tales of storytellers. Lanterns, torches, and oil lamps illuminate the village, offering visitors the atmosphere of a vanished world.

Christmas in the Village

The living nativity is the heart of Natale al Borgo, the Christmas program of the Municipality of Custonaci that brings the town to life throughout the festive season. Beyond the performances in the cave, the program features Christmas markets with handicrafts, local gastronomy, concerts, theatrical shows, roaming folk groups, workshops, exhibitions, and tastings. The Befana Day on January 6th closes the festivities with dozens of costumed Befanas invading the village streets.

Why it's worth the trip

More than just a nativity scene, the Custonaci event is a true re-enactment of Sicilian peasant culture, set in a landscape you won't soon forget. The combination of the grandeur of the Grotta Mangiapane, the authenticity of the crafts on display, and the warm participation of an entire community makes this event a benchmark for Christmas in Sicily, attracting thousands of visitors from across the island and beyond every year.