38th edition · Christmas 2026
The living nativity is staged in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto, from 4 pm to 9 pm. The walk takes about two hours.
Six days between Christmas and Epiphany, plus a Sunday parade of costumed performers to wait for the opening.
Parade of costumed performers through the streets of Pezze di Greco and Holy Mass in the church of S. Maria del Carmine.
Eventfrom 10 am
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto · St Stephen's Day, opening night
16:00 – 21:00
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto
16:00 – 21:00
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto
16:00 – 21:00
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto
16:00 – 21:00
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto
16:00 – 21:00
in the cave village of Lama del Trappeto · Epiphany, closing night
16:00 – 21:00
New this year: tickets are sold online, through the Apulia Ticket network.
Ages 13 and up. VAT included, valid for the whole route.
Ages 6 to 12.
Up to 5 years old.
Free admission for people with disabilities.
New: tickets are sold online, through the secure Apulia Ticket network.
A message from the President
With heartfelt gratitude to everyone who makes the 38th edition of the Living Nativity of Pezze di Greco possible, and in wishing each and every one of you a peaceful Christmas, open to the hope of days rich in goodness and peace, I would like to recall, starting from the experience of this event, some of the guiding lines that Pope Leo XIV has wisely set out in his recent encyclical Magnifica humanitas on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence.
In the age of algorithms and global networks, amid the promises of transhumanism, as we are challenged to overcome our limits through technology, with the risk of fostering a culture of domination over others, returning to the mystery of the Nativity – that is, of the Son of God who enters our human condition – teaches us that the true humanity of a life is fulfilled in openness and communion with those who are deprived of dignity and reduced to silence.
The experience of community and the call to closeness typical of our rural culture, in which every year we stage the mystery of the birth of Jesus, are an unmistakable message for everyone to rediscover the value of genuine relationships: let us be moved by the tears of the little ones, the frailty of the elderly, the struggle of those who fight against evil, the flesh of our fellow human beings.
To you, visitor to our nativity, at the end of the route, in the cave of the Child, I wish that you may reach the certainty that even when machines excel in efficiency, the centre of history remains a human face that asks to be seen.
Yes, where humanity is in danger of losing its own face, we Christians lift our eyes to the God who became flesh.
And if the light of faith does not shine in you who receive this greeting, may the shared commitment not seem absurd or impossible to you: to inhabit our humanity to the full, disarming our words, renewing dialogue, taking on the gaze of the victims and building, as far as we can, peace in justice.
Merry Christmas!
Don Donato Liuzzi
President of the "Presepe Vivente" Cultural Association of Pezze di Greco
A message from the Mayor
It is with deep emotion and pride that we prepare to experience the 38th edition of an event that has become part of our community's cultural heritage and of its heart. For almost four decades the Living Nativity has been a collective embrace that unites Pezze di Greco and the whole City of Fasano. Its strength is that of a story that renews itself, able to safeguard our identity and to keep speaking to us, transcending time and holding firm even through the most complex and divisive moments.
Faced with the global, social and humanitarian challenges of our time, we choose to respond with a concrete and powerful symbol: Lama del Trappeto. Set up with care and beauty, it once again becomes the cradle of the Holy Nativity and, even more, a home of welcome for all. We want this 38th edition to be, more strongly than ever, a beacon of inclusion: an open place where every person, whatever their origin, faith or path in life, can feel welcome and part of a greater design.
We believe that the Living Nativity 2026 is a precious opportunity to rediscover the true meaning of sharing, to reflect together on the value of mutual respect and to strengthen the bonds that make us a community. Our invitation is addressed not only to those who will come to visit us, but to anyone seeking a haven of peace, listening and brotherhood.
Here lies the deepest meaning of Christmas: in brotherly love and in that spirit of friendship which has its roots in the Christian tradition yet becomes universal, profoundly human. It is a light that warms hearts and shows us the way to build a fairer, more just and caring community. We need to come together and rediscover it.
The Living Nativity of Pezze di Greco is the fruit of a shared, generous and inclusive passion. It is the result of the work of the organisers, the associations and the hundreds of performers who, with different stories, ages and backgrounds, give their time, skill and enthusiasm every year. For 38 editions this dedication has been renewed and refined, supported by rigorous historical research and a staging that always strives for excellence.
To all of them, and in particular to Don Donato Liuzzi, Parish Priest and President of the "Presepe Vivente" Cultural Association of Pezze di Greco, the tireless guardian and soul of this tradition, we extend our most sincere and heartfelt thanks.
To each of you I wish a Christmas of genuine serenity, of inclusion lived out and of that peace which can only be born of encounter, understanding and mutual respect.
Francesco Zaccaria
Mayor of the City of Fasano
For classes
Every year we set aside a special opening day for schools. This year, because of school holidays and long weekends, it is not planned: for information, message us on WhatsApp.
Message us on WhatsAppFor associations and parishes
The recommended days for organised groups will be announced soon. Write to us to plan your visit.
Contact us