Nativity Scenes in the Historic Center

A sprawling nativity scene in the labyrinth of Guardia la Bella

In Guardia Sanframondi, a village in the Province of Benevento in the heart of the Sannio region, Campania, Christmas is a story told through walking. With the Nativity Scenes in the Historic Center, the maze of alleys, arches, stairways, and cellars known as the labyrinth of 'Guardia la Bella' becomes one large, diffused nativity scene. The works of master craftsmen are set up in ancient ground-floor spaces and along the route, where visitors discover them one by one, often accompanied by the artisans themselves, who explain their techniques, materials, and narrative choices.

The exhibition is promoted by the 'Il Guardiolo' Natural Shopping Center Consortium in collaboration with the Municipality of Guardia Sanframondi, the Province of Benevento, Catholic Action, and local associations. The organizers' stated goal is twofold: to keep the historic center alive, with its workshops and craft activities, and to pass on to new generations a tradition that here is not just folklore, but also faith and community identity.

From the 2009 cellars to the 'Guardiolo' editions

The idea of bringing nativity scenes into the cellars of the historic center dates back to 2009, when more than twenty master craftsmen worked on the theme of light in the Baroque period as part of the project 'Emotions of Light: A Christmas in the Sannio Baroque', supported by the Association of Titerno Municipalities, the CNA of Benevento, and the Campania Region.

However, the exhibition in its current form was born in December 2014: the first edition was inaugurated on December 16th with 21 nativity scenes, a blessing from the parish priest, and a toast with wine from the 'La Guardiense' Social Winery. Since then, the route has grown year by year:

• Second edition (December 2015) — inaugurated on December 14th in the church of San Sebastiano, with 16 master craftsmen and the support of local wineries.
• Third edition (December 2016) — opened on December 12th at the Ave Gratia Plena, on Via Filippo Maria Guidi: 22 master craftsmen joined by students from the 'A. De Blasio' Comprehensive Institute, the Giustiniani-Carafa Art Institute, and the Galilei-Vetrone school complex; awards ceremony in February 2017.
• Fourth edition (December 2017 - January 2018) — awards ceremony on February 18th, 2018, with masters Raffaele Gargiulo, Giustino Pengue, and Michele Vitelli on the podium, and a special mention for a student from the Galilei-Vetrone agricultural institute.
• Fifth edition (December 2018 - January 2019) — 19 nativity scenes along the labyrinth, visitable in the evening hours until mid-January, and the 'The Heart in the Nativity' conference at the Basilica Sanctuary of the Assumption.

The competition and public vote

The 'Nativity Scenes in the Historic Center' is not just an exhibition: it is also a competition. The works are numbered along the route, and visitors participate in the judging with a popular vote, while a commission announces the winners in a ceremony that in past editions was held in January or even February, marking the end of the Christmas period. Alongside the most experienced master craftsmen, schools, associations, and local youth compete: this very blend of signature craftsmanship and school workshops is one of the most recognizable features of the event, explaining why each edition takes on a different face compared to the previous one.

Guardia Sanframondi, the Seven-Year Rites, and Sannio wine

Visitors from outside the region should note that Guardia Sanframondi is famous throughout Campania for its Seven-Year Penance Rites in honor of the Assumption, one of the most intense expressions of popular devotion in Southern Italy. The same religious sensitivity also permeates the nativity scenes set up in the village, often conceived as a narrative of faith rather than a simple backdrop. The town is also one of the hubs of Sannio wine, with the large 'La Guardiense' cooperative and its Falanghina and Aglianico vineyards, and it preserves a medieval historic center dominated by a castle that has become a destination for both Italian and foreign visitors in recent years.

When to go and how to visit

The exhibition traditionally occupies the entire Christmas period, opening in mid-December and closing between Epiphany and mid-January. The hours documented in past editions were in the afternoon and evening, roughly from 4:00-5:00 PM to 8:30-9:00 PM, when the lighting of the alleys makes the route more evocative. The path winds over stone paving, inclines, and stairways: comfortable shoes and warm clothing are recommended, as many displays are located in unheated rooms.

Note: Local sources document the editions between 2014 and 2019 with precision, while for more recent seasons, no detailed calendar has been published online, and the consortium's historical website is no longer accessible. Before setting off, it is therefore advisable to verify the actual occurrence of the exhibition with the Municipality of Guardia Sanframondi or through the social media channels of local associations.