Manarola’s Marvel: World’s Largest Lit Nativity Scene Illuminates Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is a beautiful gem on the coast of Liguria. Everyone loves it for its romantic mood and stunning views of the sea. People flock there in droves in the summer, but as Christmas comes, it changes magically, making it a coast not to be missed even in the winter for a truly Christmas feel.
A special nativity scene is lit up in Manarola on December 8, just as the holidays are getting closer. This is the event that stands out from the rest. With its thousand lights and distinguishing figures, the Manarola nativity scene lights up the whole area, making for a truly unique nighttime show between the sky and the sea. something that makes Christmas in Cinque Terre even more beautiful.
The Christmas scene that shines in Manarola
When the nativity scene is lit up every December 8, Manarola, a cute little village in the town of Riomaggiore, becomes the center of a one-of-a-kind event. The town is lit up by a beautiful manger scene with more than 15,000 lights. The nativity scene lights up Manarola until the middle of January, making the town look beautiful.
But turning on the lights for the nativity scene is more than just a pretty sight; it’s also a happy time. After the inauguration, there is a torchlight parade that brings together residents and tourists in a time of sharing and coming together. Along with the usual lighting of the nativity scene, there are also Christmas markets and a beautiful fireworks show that light up the sky of Manarola.
The story of the Manarola Christmas Scene
The Manarola nativity scene is thought to be the biggest illuminated nativity scene in the world. It takes up an entire hill with a view of the town. It gets a lot of people every year, both from Italy and other countries. The idea of Mario Andreoli, a former railroad worker whose passion turned this hill into a unique spot, became a wonderful reality.
Andreoli started a 30-year project in 1976 when he put a glowing cross on top of the hill. Christmas scene, but also a one-of-a-kind piece of art that came to life every year. Andreoli came up with ideas for characters and made them. He also added new figures and set pieces using recycled and recovered materials. Over the years, more than 300 life-size figures of the nativity, shepherds, angels, animals, and other characters have been added to the scene.
With its huge size, the manger scene in Liguria holds the Guinness World Record.
The Manarola Nativity Scene is a truly surprising draw. It’s spread out over 4000 square meters and is driven by a photovoltaic system with about 8 kilometers of cables and 17000 LED lights. Every year, a light show takes place that amazes and charms tourists, making Manarola, which was already beautiful, even more wonderful and memorable.
The Manarola nativity scene was the world’s biggest lit-up nativity scene in 2007, so it made it into the Guinness Book of Records. The magnificent piece of art shines brightly on the hill, making a beautiful and memorable atmosphere.
The most beautiful parts of the Manarola Nativity Scene
From a distance, the Manarola nativity scene stands out a lot. It can be seen from many places because it is so big. You can see it in all its beauty by going to the town’s main square. Without a doubt, the most interesting and moving view can be seen from the path between Manarola and Riomaggiore, specifically from Beccara.
There are a lot of steps on this one-of-a-kind road, and not everyone should take it. To get to the top, there are 320 steps. In the town’s main area, there is a walk that goes across the top of the hill. There are places along the street to look at the beautiful nativity scene and be amazed by how grand it is.
Also, this is a great spot for taking beautiful pictures. Even though it takes work and a potentially difficult walk, the view from the top is worth it. It’s hard to describe how you feel when you look at the Manarola nativity scene because it makes you think of Christmas and the stunning beauty of the Cinque Terre.