Living Nativity at Parco Oasi Cosentini

A living nativity in the greenery of the ancient Bosco delle Aci

Every year, during the Christmas season, the Parco Oasi Cosentini in Santa Venerina, in the province of Catania, turns into a grand open-air nativity scene. Amidst centuries-old oaks, lush vegetation, and the characteristic stone paths of the ancient Bosco delle Aci, the Living Nativity at Parco Oasi Cosentini offers a journey that takes you back in time to the night of the Nativity.

A journey through ancient crafts

The route winds along the park's trails, where performers in period costumes re-enact the life and trades of rural Sicily from days gone by. Along the way, you will encounter authentic scenes, animated with original tools and utensils:

• the farmer and the housewife busy with their daily chores;
• the washerwoman, the blacksmith, and the carpenter at work in their workshops;
• the shepherds with their flock and the innkeeper (the ricuttaru) preparing fresh ricotta;
• Christmas music played by the ciaramiddaru, the traditional Sicilian bagpiper.

The path culminates at the Holy Family's manger, where the Nativity scene is completed by the presence of the ox, the donkey, and the Angel Gabriel. On Epiphany, the atmosphere is further enriched by the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Flavors and scents of tradition

Along the way, visitors are welcomed with tastings of traditional Sicilian Christmas treats: fritters, chickpeas, chestnuts, wine, and freshly baked bread, offered at stops between scenes. The scent of spices, ancient sounds, and the warmth of the embers accompany the public in an experience that engages all the senses.

A local event

The Living Nativity is organized by the I Due Pini - Maria SS. del Rosario Association, with the patronage of the Municipality of Santa Venerina. Now a highly anticipated Christmas event in the Catania area, it involves a large number of volunteers and performers from the local community, guardians of a tradition that unites faith, nature, and folk culture.

Where it takes place

The event is held in the hamlet of Cosentini, in Santa Venerina, at the foot of Mount Etna in the Ionian area of the province of Catania. The Parco Oasi Cosentini, with its oak forest, offers a unique natural setting that makes this living nativity one of the most evocative in Eastern Sicily.