"Greccio... The Nativity Scene" — Arts and Crafts Market for Nativity Scenes
The Christmas market in the village where Saint Francis invented the nativity scene
About Greccio... The Nativity Scene
Where the nativity scene was born
Greccio, a small town in the Province of Rieti included in the circuit of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy, is a symbolic place for the Italian Christmas. It was here that, on the night of 1223, Saint Francis of Assisi set up the first representation of the Nativity, giving rise to the tradition of the nativity scene that would later spread throughout the world. From this legacy comes "Greccio... The Nativity Scene", the Arts and Crafts Market for Nativity Scenes, which brings the ancient village to life every year from late November until January 6th.
A village of wooden chalets
The heart of the event is Piazza Roma, in the old town, where about thirty alpine-style wooden chalets are set up. Inside, selected master artisans present figurines, scenery, backdrops, mechanisms, and accessories for nativity scenes, as well as broader artistic and Christmas crafts: ceramics, wood carvings, candles, tree decorations, and entirely handmade gift ideas. The offerings range from the classic Neapolitan and Lazio traditions to more contemporary interpretations of nativity art.
Flavors of Sabina
Alongside the crafts, there is a rich food and wine offering dedicated to typical products of the Rieti territory: extra virgin olive oil from Sabina, cheeses, cured meats, honey, sweets, and preserves. A food area welcomes visitors with hot dishes, while mulled wine and hot chocolate are always available along the route—almost essential on winter days at over 700 meters above sea level. Some spaces are reserved for local volunteer associations, which use the market as a charitable showcase.
Beyond the market
A visit to Greccio does not end among the chalets. The village hosts the MIPGreccio, the International Nativity Scene Museum, with hundreds of nativities from all continents, and the famous Franciscan Sanctuary perched on the rock, reachable in a few minutes from the center. The Path of the Artists also winds through the streets of the town, an itinerary of themed works and installations. During the Christmas period, the Municipality also schedules concerts, photo exhibitions, nativity competition awards, and performances of the living nativity scene, which is the most anticipated event and attracts thousands of spectators to the village.
Why it's worth the trip
- Free admission to the entire market area
- Quality nativity craftsmanship, hard to find elsewhere in one place
- An intact medieval village, about an hour's drive from Rome
- A unique historical and spiritual context: the nativity tradition was truly born here
- Excellent combination with a visit to the Sanctuary and the nativity museum
Tips for your visit
Opening days are concentrated on the weekends of late November and December, becoming continuous between Christmas and Epiphany. On the busiest weekends and during the living nativity scene days, it is advisable to arrive well in advance: the village is small and parking is limited. Clothing should be suitable for the cold and footwear comfortable, as the route winds along sloping streets and cobblestones. The Lazio Region supports the event, which is now one of the most iconic Christmas appointments in the entire region.
Greccio... The Nativity Scene — edition 2026
27th edition
The inauguration was held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, in the ancient village of Greccio, in the presence of the municipal administration led by Mayor Emiliano Fabi. For nearly six weeks, the town transformed into a Christmas village, with wooden chalets dedicated to nativity and artistic crafts and a path connecting the market to the MIPGreccio, the International Nativity Scene Museum, and the Franciscan Sanctuary.
The calendar
Openings were concentrated on the weekends of late November and December, becoming continuous during the Christmas period, until Epiphany. The program included performances of the living nativity scene, exhibitions, concerts, and awards ceremonies, with a finale dedicated to themes of peace.
The grand finale
On January 5, 2026, at the Sanctuary of Greccio, the "Baroque Christmas" concert took place with the Orpheus and Giuseppe Rosati choirs, conducted by maestros Angelo Fusacchia and Emanuele Ciogli, accompanied by readings on peace by representatives of the twin cities. On January 6, the Giovanni Velita Hall hosted the photo exhibition "Market in Photos," curated by the Utopia association of Rieti, and in the afternoon at MIPGreccio, the awards ceremony for the "Greccio Nativity Scene 1223" competition was held.
Programme Greccio... The Nativity Scene 2026
Market opening days
- November 29 and 30, 2025
- December 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2025
- December 13 and 14, 2025
- December 20 and 21, 2025
- Continuous opening from December 24 to 28, 2025
- Continuous opening from December 31, 2025, to January 6, 2026
Approximate hours: 10:00 to 18:00. Venue: Piazza Roma and streets of the ancient village.
Living Nativity Scene
- December 24, 2025, late evening
- December 26, 27, and 28, 2025, late afternoon
- January 1, 3, 4, and 6, 2026, late afternoon
Side events
- January 5, 2026, Sanctuary of Greccio — "Baroque Christmas" concert with the Orpheus and Giuseppe Rosati choirs; peace readings by mayors and delegates from twin cities (Assisi, Corleto Perticara, Frisanco, San Donato Val di Comino, Aulla, Celano, Faggiano) and Prayer for Peace by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, with the intervention of Friar Giovanni Loche, rector of the Sanctuary
- January 6, 2026, morning, Giovanni Velita Hall — inauguration of the photo exhibition "Market in Photos" by the Utopia association of Rieti
- January 6, 2026, afternoon, MIPGreccio — awards ceremony for the "Greccio Nativity Scene 1223" competition: first prize to Simonetta Panunzi, second to Gabriella D'Urso, third to Maurizio Colantoni
Highlights Greccio... The Nativity Scene 2026
- About thirty wooden chalets with nativity and Christmas crafts
- Performances of the living nativity scene in the ancient village
- The "Baroque Christmas" concert on January 5 at the Franciscan Sanctuary
- The "Market in Photos" exhibition and the nativity competition awards at MIPGreccio
- Typical products of the Sabina reatina, mulled wine, and hot chocolate
- Charitable spaces reserved for volunteer associations
Prices Greccio... The Nativity Scene 2026
Practical information — Greccio... The Nativity Scene
How to get there
By car: from Rome, take the A1 motorway to Fiano Romano, then the SS4 Salaria towards Rieti and the turn-off for Greccio (about 1 hour and 15 minutes). From Terni, take the SS79 towards Rieti. Parking is available at the foot of the village, with shuttles on days of high turnout.
By train
Rieti station (Terni-Rieti-L'Aquila line), then bus or taxi to Greccio, about 17 km away.
Hours and admission
Market open approximately from 10:00 to 18:00 on opening days. Free admission.
Contacts
Tourism Office of the Municipality of Greccio — tel. +39 0746 750640 — [email protected]
Tips
Winter clothing and comfortable shoes. On the days of the living nativity scene, booking and early arrival are recommended.
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Where does it take place — Greccio... The Nativity Scene
Borgo antico di Greccio — Piazza Roma
Piazza Roma, 02045 Greccio