The Scurelle Nativity Scene

A monumental nativity scene in the heart of Valsugana

The Scurelle Nativity Scene is one of the most beloved and well-known Nativity representations in Trentino-Alto Adige. Set up every year in Piazza Maggiore, in the center of the town of Scurelle, in the lower Valsugana valley (Province of Trento), the nativity scene welcomes visitors throughout the Christmas season, from December 8th to January 6th. Its life-size statues, immersed in a setting that evokes the mountains and local rural life, make it an unmissable event for anyone visiting the valley during the holidays.

History and the Deflorian artists

The tradition of the monumental nativity scene of Scurelle began in 1999 and has been renewed every year since, thanks to the work of community volunteers who dedicate entire weeks to preparing the display. The faces and figures of the Nativity bear the signature of the Deflorian artists: master Felix Deflorian, a Trentino sculptor trained at the Moena art school, and his children Tiziano and Maria Rosa, who have inherited his artistic legacy. The statues, entirely carved from wood, reach an extremely high level of technical and expressive quality.

Materials and setting

The hut and the setting of the nativity scene are crafted from local materials: larch wood and stones from the Lagorai, the mountain range that overlooks Scurelle and the Valsugana valley. The figures of Saint Joseph, the Madonna, and the Baby Jesus, accompanied by the ox and the donkey, are placed in a scene enriched by elements of alpine rural culture, which restores the authentic atmosphere of the Trentino mountains.

The nativity scene at the Vatican

In 2019, the Scurelle Nativity Scene achieved international fame: a representation of it, created using wood from trees felled by the Vaia storm, was chosen to be displayed in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, bringing the traditions of the Valsugana and Lagorai regions to the heart of Christendom.

In the square around the nativity

Around the display, the community organizes moments of celebration and sharing. On dedicated evenings, Piazza Maggiore comes alive with the tasting of local products such as canederli (bread dumplings), goulash soup, polenta-based dishes, and mulled wine, accompanied by live music. The inauguration, with the blessing of the nativity scene, officially opens the Christmas season in Scurelle.

A free event for the whole family

Visiting the nativity scene is free and open to all throughout the opening period. Thanks to its outdoor location in the town center, the Scurelle Nativity Scene is easily accessible and represents an ideal stop for a Christmas itinerary in Valsugana, amidst tradition, art, and alpine landscapes.