International Nativity Scene Art Exhibition (Giffoni of Wonders)
Thirty years of nativity scenes from across Europe in the halls of the San Francesco Monumental Complex
About Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition
Thirty years of nativity art in the Picentini Mountains
The International Nativity Scene Art Exhibition in Giffoni Valle Piana, in the province of Salerno, is one of the most established and recognized events in the Italian nativity scene landscape. Organized by the Pro Loco Giffoni Valle Piana Association, the exhibition reached its 30th edition in December 2025, celebrating three decades of work dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of the nativity scene. As part of the Giffoni of Wonders Christmas program, the exhibition transforms the historic center of the Picentini town every winter into a landmark destination for enthusiasts, school groups, and families from across Campania.
The San Francesco Monumental Complex
The exhibition is housed in the San Francesco Monumental Complex, a medieval Gothic structure featuring frescoes of significant interest. The restored halls host a display area of approximately 600 square meters, primarily located on the second floor of the building—a setting that adds value to the works by creating a dialogue between convent architecture and the craftsmanship of the nativity artisans. The complex itself is one of the most significant monuments in the area, making a visit to the exhibition a perfect opportunity to discover it.
Around 120 nativity scenes, techniques, and materials
The collection brings together approximately 120 nativity scenes from Campania, other Italian regions, and abroad. The variety of materials is one of the aspects most appreciated by visitors, demonstrating the diverse paths a single iconography can take:
- paper and papier-mâché;
- terracotta and ceramics;
- carved wood;
- glass and hand-painted works;
- preserved plants and natural materials.
Alongside traditional scenes, there are contemporary interpretations with figures that step outside the classical repertoire—a typical trait of the Neapolitan school, which has always been able to blend the sacred with the stories of daily life.
The three sections of the exhibition
- Czech Nativity Scenes: nineteen works from Eastern Bohemia, representing one of the largest displays of Czech nativity art ever staged outside national borders;
- Ascoli Piceno Ceramics: a section dedicated to the ceramic production of the Marche region;
- Neapolitan Nativity Scene: the most substantial section, featuring the various traditions that make up the Parthenopean school.
Art, peace, and solidarity
For the 30th anniversary, the Pro Loco launched a call for illustrators, painters, graphic designers, and visual artists to reinterpret a figure from the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene to foster a collective reflection on peace and human dignity, using symbolic language without graphic imagery. The selected works were not only exhibited but also used for charity prints and calendars to support humanitarian initiatives. The event also saw participation from third-sector organizations, including the Lega del Filo d'Oro.
Giffoni of Wonders: crafts and Christmas market
The exhibition is not an isolated event. In the same venue and during the same period, the GAL Colline Salernitane, together with the Pro Loco and COPISA (the association of Picentini Pro Loco groups), organized the First Exhibition of Artistic Crafts and Picentini Traditions, featuring twelve selected artisans from ten local municipalities, alongside a Christmas market where visitors can purchase gifts and local products. The goal is to create a permanent showcase for local craftsmanship that links religious tourism, culture, the environment, and high-quality agri-food products.
A heritage of Campania
In Campania, the nativity scene is much more than a Christmas decoration: it is a layered popular language where the Nativity coexists with the trades, markets, and characters of the town. In Giffoni Valle Piana, this legacy is displayed with a museum-like approach while maintaining the volunteer spirit of a Pro Loco. Located in a Campania Region municipality known worldwide for its children's film festival, the town reveals a more intimate, artisanal side in winter. For those visiting the province of Salerno between December and Epiphany, it is a stop that combines art, tradition, and the landscape of the Picentini Mountains.
Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition — edition 2026
The 30th anniversary of the exhibition
The 30th edition, which opened on December 6, 2025, and closed on January 6, 2026, represented a double milestone for the Pro Loco Giffoni Valle Piana Association: the celebration of thirty years of nativity-related activity and the return of the exhibition after the cancellation of the previous edition. The San Francesco Monumental Complex, in the historic center of the Salerno municipality, welcomed approximately 120 works distributed over an area of about 600 square meters.
An international journey
The section dedicated to the Czech Republic, with nineteen nativity scenes from Eastern Bohemia, constituted one of the largest displays of Czech nativity art ever staged abroad. Alongside it, the section for Ascoli Piceno ceramics and the larger section dedicated to the Neapolitan nativity scene in its various traditions were featured. Materials exhibited included papier-mâché, terracotta, ceramics, carved wood, glass, hand-painted works, and preserved plants.
A reflection on peace
For the first time, the exhibition hosted a special section born from a call for visual artists, who were asked to reinterpret a figure from the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene as a collective reflection on peace and human dignity. The selected works were also used for charity prints and calendars to support humanitarian initiatives.
Programme Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition 2026
The exhibition route
Approximately 120 nativity scenes set up in about 600 square meters in the restored halls of the San Francesco Monumental Complex, mainly on the second floor, divided into three sections:
- Section I - Nativity scenes from the Czech Republic: nineteen works from Eastern Bohemia, among the largest exhibitions of Czech nativity art displayed outside the country;
- Section II - Nativity scenes in Ascoli Piceno ceramics;
- Section III - The Neapolitan nativity scene in its various traditions, the most substantial part of the exhibition.
Special 30th-anniversary section
A selection of works born from the call for illustrators, painters, graphic designers, and visual artists (deadline November 15, 2025), dedicated to the reinterpretation of a figure from the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene as a reflection on peace and human dignity. The works were also used for charity prints and calendars. Contributions from third-sector associations, including the Lega del Filo d'Oro, and works from other Italian regions were also present.
Collateral events - Giffoni of Wonders
- First Exhibition of Artistic Crafts and Picentini Traditions, promoted by GAL Colline Salernitane with the Pro Loco and COPISA: twelve artisans selected along with ten municipalities of the district, in the same venue and during the same period as the nativity exhibition;
- Christmas market with products from local artisans, designed for purchasing traditional gifts.
Highlights Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition 2026
- 30th edition: thirty years of the International Nativity Scene Art Exhibition;
- around 120 nativity scenes from Campania, other Italian regions, and abroad;
- nineteen Czech nativity scenes from Eastern Bohemia, a landmark exhibition outside the Czech Republic;
- Ascoli Piceno ceramic section;
- extensive section dedicated to the Neapolitan nativity scene;
- special section on peace and human dignity, with charity calendars and prints;
- first exhibition of Picentini artistic crafts and Christmas market in the same venue;
- installation of approximately 600 sqm in the restored halls of the San Francesco Monumental Complex.
Prices Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition 2026
Practical information — Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition
Location
San Francesco Monumental Complex, Giffoni Valle Piana (SA), ZIP 84095, province of Salerno, Campania Region. The exhibition route winds through the restored halls of the complex, specifically on the second floor.
How to get there
By car: Giffoni Valle Piana is located in the Picentini hinterland, a short distance from Salerno, and is connected to the provincial capital by the Picentino valley roads. By train: the most convenient stations are in the Salerno area, from where you can continue by bus or car. Parking in the historic center is limited; it is advisable to leave your car in the lower areas and walk up.
Hours and admission
Opening hours and any admission fees are not published on a fixed schedule online. Before visiting, it is recommended to contact the Pro Loco or check their social media profiles, which are updated throughout the exhibition period.
Contacts
- Pro Loco Giffoni Valle Piana Association
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +39 089 865218 - +39 320 0279610
- Instagram: @proloco.gvp - Facebook: Pro Loco Giffoni Valle Piana
Tips
Public holidays and the period between Christmas and Epiphany are the most crowded; for a more relaxed visit, choose a weekday afternoon. The exhibition is suitable for children, but the works are fragile and should be viewed without touching. School groups can arrange visits in advance with the organizers.
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Where does it take place — Giffoni Nativity Scene Art Exhibition
Complesso Monumentale San Francesco