The Journey of the Three Kings Living Nativity (Borgo San Mauro)

A living nativity in the heart of San Mauro

The Journey of the Three Kings Living Nativity is the Christmas performance that brings the Borgo di San Mauro to life during the final days of December. Located in a small hamlet of the Alvignano municipality in the province of Caserta, in the heart of Campania, the village provides a captivating backdrop. With its narrow alleys, stone and tuff houses, and historic courtyards, the village transforms for a few evenings into ancient Jerusalem, offering visitors an immersive experience filled with authentic Christmas spirit.

The route and the scenes

The public is guided along an itinerary that winds through the most evocative corners of the village. Thanks to the efforts of numerous volunteers, the empty spaces, narrow lanes, and ancient stones come alive: actors in period costumes, animals, and reconstructions of traditional crafts restore the atmosphere of two thousand years ago. The path, which symbolically evokes the spiritual journey toward the Nativity, leads to the Nativity Manger, the highlight of the entire event.

• Workshops and ancient crafts reconstructed among the alleys
• Costumed actors and animals along the route
• Scenes of daily life in ancient Palestine
• The Nativity Manger as the final stop

A young and well-attended tradition

Launched in 2023, the event has quickly become a highly anticipated date on the local Christmas calendar. It is organized by the Associazione Eredità Culturali APS with the patronage of the Municipality of Alvignano, involving a large number of local volunteers who spend weeks preparing the scenes and costumes. The event is suitable for all ages and serves as an opportunity to rediscover and celebrate the historical and human heritage of San Mauro.

Alvignano and the surrounding area

Alvignano is a town in the Alto Casertano region, in the middle Volturno valley, a land of ancient villages, farming traditions, and a strong rural identity. The San Mauro living nativity is part of the rich Campanian tradition of living nativity scenes—among the most vibrant in Italy—offering visitors the chance to combine the charm of a sacred performance with the discovery of an authentic village in the Caserta hinterland.