Christmas in Lecce/ Crib Exhibition

The Lecce branch of the Italian association Amici de presepe (Friends of the Crib), in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Museums Apulia and the Municipality, is organising the 22nd edition of the Crib Exhibition. In the Charles V Castle, artists, artisans, collectors, and hobbyists, from Salento and elsewhere, display nativity scene works of all shapes, sizes and types, which, in the Santa Trinità bastion, will be flanked by the contemporary art exhibition curated by Antonio di Paola 'Le creature del cantico' (The Creatures of the Canticle), inspired by the elements and aspects of the earthly life of St Francis. In fact, 2023 will mark the eighth centenary of the first crib, set up by the friar himself in Greccio. There will be many side events, including the meeting on the theme 'Creatures of the Canticle' on Wednesday 20 at 7 pm and the Lecce stone workshop with master Di Paola and the icon workshop with master Biagio Antonio Delle Donne on the evening of Wednesday 27.

The XXII Nativity Exhibition is open from 20 December to 7 January 2024, Monday to Friday, from 5.30 pm to 9 pm; Saturday, Sunday and holidays also from 10.30 am to 1 pm.