Living Nativity of Campofontana

Christmas Revives in the Hamlets of Lessinia

The Living Nativity of Campofontana is one of the most beloved Christmas events in the Verona area. It takes place in the Roncari hamlet of Campofontana, part of Selva di Progno in the province of Verona, at an altitude of 1224 metres in the heart of the upper Lessinia region. For over twenty years, costumed participants have enlivened the village on December 24th, 25th, and 26th, transforming stone houses, haylofts, and snow-covered alleys into the natural setting of the Nativity.

Ancient Mountain Crafts

What makes this Nativity scene special is the care taken in reconstructing life in the past: along the path, you can encounter the grinder, the seamstress, the blacksmith, the carpenter, and shepherds with their flock, in a representation that is also a living memory of the crafts and peasant culture of Lessinia. The high altitude and mountain environment, often covered in snow, enhance the authentic atmosphere.

Three Days of Tradition, from Mass to the Three Wise Men

The programme unfolds over the three traditional days: the sung Holy Mass on Christmas Eve, the performance on Christmas Day with the re-enactment of ancient crafts, and finally, on St. Stephen's Day, the anticipation of the arrival of the Three Wise Men. An event that attracts numerous visitors from Verona and the Veneto region every year, drawn by one of the most evocative living Nativity scenes in the region.