Presepiarte - Ceramic Nativity Scene Exhibition and Competition
The national ceramic nativity scene exhibition and competition in the city of Sannio majolica
About Presepiarte
Presepiarte, the Christmas of ceramics in Cerreto Sannita
In Cerreto Sannita, an 18th-century village in the Province of Benevento, in the heart of the Sannio region of Campania, the Christmas season has a distinct color: the vibrant glazes of local majolica. From December 8th to January 6th, the Presepiarte exhibition and competition brings together dozens of ceramic nativity scenes created by master artisans, art schools, and associations from across Italy, displayed in the halls of the Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics and the Palazzo del Genio.
This is no ordinary Christmas display: Presepiarte is a true competition, complete with an expert jury, a painting section, and a sculpture section, culminating in an awards ceremony that closes the event. The best works are then added to the artistic heritage preserved and promoted by the Municipality.
A tradition born from the meeting of nativity scenes and craftsmanship
The event was born from the idea of combining the tradition of the nativity scene with the creativity of artists and students, who are free to compose the Nativity scene according to their own artistic sensibility. As early as the 2016 edition, the exhibition brought around fifty nativity scenes to Cerreto from «every corner of Italy», from Piedmont to Sicily, with the participation of art schools from cities with ancient ceramic traditions: a structure that has been maintained over the years and is now the hallmark of Presepiarte.
The link with the national ceramic network is institutional: Cerreto Sannita is part of the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities (AiCC), which supports the Municipality in organizing the competition and ensures its national scope, with competing potters coming from Italy's main ceramic hubs.
Cerreto Sannita, city of ceramics
To understand why the nativity scene is molded in clay here, one must look at the town's history. After the earthquake of 1688, the town was rebuilt from scratch according to a regular urban plan, and the arrival of masters from the Neapolitan area boosted a majolica production that made the name of Cerreto famous. The Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics, housed in the Palazzo Sant'Antonio on Corso Marzio Carafa, preserves the Mazzacane collection with about four hundred works, mostly from the 18th century - display plates, pharmacy jars, pitchers, soup tureens - alongside a contemporary section fueled by the Biennials of Ceramic Art and the religious-themed works arriving from Presepiarte.
Visiting the exhibition therefore means crossing three centuries of craftsmanship: the historic display cases, the workshops still active in the center, and the contemporary nativity scenes in competition all tell the story of the same material across different eras.
What to see at the exhibition
- ceramic nativity scenes signed by professional master potters, competing in the painting and sculpture sections;
- collective works by art schools and art institutes, often the most surprising for their compositional freedom;
- works by associations and groups from the Sannio territory;
- displays that combine the Nativity with glimpses of the village, terracotta, glazes, and decorations typical of Cerreto majolica.
A competition involving the Titerno Valley
In recent years, the event has expanded to the surrounding territory: the national competition has been joined by the «Nativity scenes in the families of the Titerno Valley» competition, promoted by the San Lorenzo Martire «Nicola Vigliotti» Cultural Body together with the municipalities of Cerreto Sannita, Cusano Mutri, Faicchio, Massa, and San Lorenzello. Domestic nativity scenes, those built at home with recycled materials and family ingenuity, thus fully enter the awards, alongside the works of professionals.
When to go and why
The best window is between the Immaculate Conception and the Epiphany, when the exhibition is open and the historic center is alive with the Christmas atmosphere. Admission to the exhibition is traditionally free, making Presepiarte an ideal destination for a half-day family trip: exhibition, museum, a walk along the 18th-century main street, and a stop in the ceramic workshops. Those arriving from Naples or Caserta can combine the visit with a stop in the nearby villages of the Matese, from Cusano Mutri to San Lorenzello, which is also a town of ceramics.
Presepiarte — edition 2026
Presepiarte 2025/26: 73 nativity scenes and five municipalities competing
The 2025/26 edition of the Cerreto Sannita exhibition and competition, organized by the Municipality with the Italian Association of Ceramic Cities (AiCC), brought together 73 ceramic nativity scenes: the work of 60 established potters alongside that of 5 schools and 2 associations, in an exhibition path open from the Immaculate Conception to the Epiphany.
The national competition was divided, as per tradition, into a painting section and a sculpture section, evaluated by a jury composed of Antonino Maddonni, Giuseppe Zoschg, Patrizia Colucci, and Ferdinando Creta. Among the schools in competition, the «Carafa-Giustiniani» Art High School was particularly noted and awarded for the continuity of its participation.
The novelty: nativity scenes from the families of the Titerno Valley
The closing ceremony hosted the first edition of the «Nativity scenes in the families of the Titerno Valley» competition, promoted by the San Lorenzo Martire «Nicola Vigliotti» Cultural Body together with the municipalities of Cerreto Sannita, Cusano Mutri, Faicchio, Massa, and San Lorenzello: an award dedicated to nativity scenes built at home, which expanded the event to the entire valley.
Memory and community
The closing, hosted in the Palazzo del Genio between late February and early March 2026, opened with a minute of silence in memory of Lucio De Simone, a historic participant of Presepiarte who passed away shortly after the exhibition's inauguration, and the Cerreto lawyer Alessio Iacobelli. A special posthumous mention was dedicated to De Simone for his last work. Thanks were extended to the municipal administration, the Municipal Police, the sponsors, and the Civil Service volunteers who ensured the opening of the halls.
Programme Presepiarte 2026
Exhibition
From December 8, 2025, to January 6, 2026, exhibition of the 73 ceramic nativity scenes in the exhibition halls of Cerreto Sannita (Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics and Palazzo del Genio), with free admission.
National Ceramic Competition
- Painting section - works painted on ceramic;
- Sculpture section - modeled and sculpted nativity scenes;
- jury: Antonino Maddonni, Giuseppe Zoschg, Patrizia Colucci, Ferdinando Creta;
- participants: 60 potters, 5 schools (including the «Carafa-Giustiniani» Art High School), and 2 associations.
«Nativity scenes in the families of the Titerno Valley» competition (1st edition)
Promoted by the San Lorenzo Martire «Nicola Vigliotti» Cultural Body with the municipalities of Cerreto Sannita, Cusano Mutri, Faicchio, Massa, and San Lorenzello, dedicated to domestic nativity scenes.
Closing and awards ceremony
Between late February and early March 2026, Palazzo del Genio: announcement of the winners of the two sections of the national competition, awarding of domestic nativity scenes, special mentions, and a moment of remembrance.
Highlights Presepiarte 2026
- 73 ceramic nativity scenes exhibited, 60 potters competing, 5 schools, and 2 associations.
- Painting section: first prize ex aequo to Elvio Sagnella and Matteo Salsano, second place to Stefano Bartoloni, third to Valentina De Vincentis.
- Sculpture section: first prize ex aequo to Domenico Caretta Maioliche and the I.S. Polo delle Arti Caselli-Palizzi, second place to Francesca Armiento, third to Silvio Amato.
- Domestic nativity scenes of the Titerno Valley: first prize to Maurizio De Simone (Cerreto Sannita); most original nativity scene to Domenico Angelo Fetto (Cusano Mutri); children's inventiveness to Federica Colomba Vitelli (Cusano Mutri); recycled materials to Federico Branca (Massa di Faicchio), ex aequo with Paolo Parente (Cerreto Sannita); most evocative scenography to Mario Porto (Faicchio), ex aequo with Alessandro Mastrobuoni (San Lorenzello); special mention to Michele Grillo and special prize to Father Franco Pezone (Cerreto Sannita).
- Special mention to the «Carafa-Giustiniani» Art High School for the continuity of participation.
- Posthumous mention dedicated to the potter Lucio De Simone.
Prices Presepiarte 2026
Practical information — Presepiarte
How to get there
By car: from Naples or Caserta, take the SS372 «Telesina» towards Benevento, exit at Telese Terme/Cerreto Sannita, then follow the provincial road for a few kilometers to the center. By train: the nearest station is Telese-Cerreto, on the Naples-Benevento-Foggia line, served by regional trains from Naples, Caserta, Benevento, and Rome, located about ten kilometers from the town, with bus connections to the center. By plane: the reference airport is Naples-Capodichino, about 70 km away.
Venue and opening hours
The exhibition is held in the halls of the Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics (Palazzo Sant'Antonio, Corso Marzio Carafa 47), while the awards ceremony takes place in the Palazzo del Genio. The museum's winter hours are: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-18:00, Wednesday and Friday 10:00-13:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-13:30 and 15:00-18:00; closed on Mondays, Christmas Day, and January 1st. During the exhibition period, extraordinary openings may be scheduled: it is advisable to check them before visiting.
Admission
Admission to the Presepiarte exhibition is free. For the museum's permanent collection only, the standard ticket applies: 3 euros full price, 1.50 euros reduced (10-18 years), free under 10 and for local school groups.
Contacts and information
Municipality of Cerreto Sannita, tel. +39 0824 815211, e-mail [email protected]. Civic Museum of Cerreto Ceramics, tel. +39 0824 861425, e-mail [email protected], website museoceramicacerreto.it.
Tips
The rooms are intimate: on holidays, it is better to arrive in the morning to visit at a leisurely pace. For those looking for an authentic souvenir, the ceramic workshops in the center are also open during the holidays.
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Where does it take place — Presepiarte
Museo civico e della Ceramica cerretese (Palazzo Sant'Antonio) e Palazzo del Genio
Corso Marzio Carafa 47, 82032 Cerreto Sannita