Last week whilst in Minturno, we visited an exhibition of traditional “Presepi” in the old Baronial castle. Such hand crafted nativity scenes are a centuries old traditional speciality of the Naples area.
Some tableaux featured the traditional group of figures, depicting the announcement of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds and Magi, together with animals and angels.
Others had far more elaborate settings, such as realistic Italian village scenes, showing every-day domestic life, craftsmen and occupations of a time gone by.
For the artists who had painstakingly sculpted these intricate masterpieces it must have been a true labour of love, with such astonishing attention to detail.
I will leave you to wonder at the superb craftsmanship of these artisans ……
All photos by me © Louise Shapcott
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tre Cancelle Farmhouse Apartments Near Sperlonga Beaches and Historic Itri, South Lazio, Italy
