Santa Jona Living Nativity in Ovindoli

A nativity scene that preserves community memory

In the heart of the Rocche plateau, the village of Santa Jona, a hamlet of the municipality of Ovindoli in the province of L'Aquila, preserves one of the most authentic Nativity representations in Abruzzo. The Santa Jona Living Nativity was founded in 1971 by Don Mario del Turco and, edition after edition, has become an unmissable Christmas appointment, capable of attracting visitors from all over the Marsica region and beyond.

The village becomes a stage

On the evenings of the performance, the corners of the historic center are transformed: the fountains and washhouses return to the rhythm of ancient daily life, while the medieval and characteristic elements of the village are enhanced by evocative lighting with strings of lights running through the alleys. There are no barriers between the public and the actors: spectators become protagonists, accompanying Mary and Joseph along the path, amidst the living tableaux of the Nativity.

A choral tradition

The Living Nativity is a project that involves the entire community of Santa Jona: actors of all ages, set designers, costume makers, lighting technicians, and animal suppliers collaborate to bring the event to life. Each year, the role of the Baby Jesus is entrusted to a newborn from the village, a sign of the deep bond between the performance and the life of the village.

Not just a nativity scene: Christmas in Santa Jona

The Nativity performance is the heart of a broader calendar of Christmas initiatives promoted by the Pro Loco of Santa Jona, with the patronage of the Municipality of Ovindoli. In the following days, the village hosts concerts in the Church of Santa Maria di Collemarciano and the traditional Befana, who descends from the Medieval Tower distributing sweets and candies to children.

• Location: village of Santa Jona, hamlet of Ovindoli (AQ)
• Route start: Piazza A. Leonardi
• Organization: Pro Loco of Santa Jona
• Period: late December, in the heart of the Christmas season

Immersed in the snowy landscape of the Sirente-Velino Regional Natural Park, the Santa Jona Living Nativity combines spirituality, rural memory, and a sense of community, offering those visiting inland Abruzzo an intimate and genuine Christmas experience.