Tradition, identity, and Christmas spirit in a new showcase for the city.
The Artisan Nativity Scene Exhibition, hosted in the historic Sala Frateantonio (Palazzo di Città), was established in recent years at the initiative of the promoting association. Its aim is to highlight one of our region's most deeply rooted traditions: the nativity scene, a symbol of Christmas, family, faith, and Sicilian identity.
The idea stems from the intuition of offering a dignified public showcase to the extraordinary works created with passion and skill by maestro Tommaso Sgandurra, who for years had been creating nativity scenes of great artistic value in his garage. These works deserved greater visibility, a larger space, and public recognition. From this vision, our association's proposal was born, immediately embraced with enthusiasm and openness by the municipal administration, led by the then Mayor, the Honorable Luca Cannata, who immediately believed in the cultural and symbolic value of the initiative.
From that first step, the exhibition has become a regular fixture during the Christmas season, an opportunity to introduce young people to the art of the nativity scene and pass on the tradition through beauty and craftsmanship. Over time, this project has grown thanks to the shared commitment of citizens, schools, artisans, and institutions, to include creative workshops for children, designed to convey not only the religious significance but also a love for the cultural roots of our community.
Today, the initiative continues with the support of the municipal administration, keeping alive a space for encounter, education, and memory. A tradition that looks to the future, born from the vision and commitment of those who believed that even a nativity scene, if well told, can speak of identity, beauty, and belonging.
South-East Sicily's projects are tools for growth and cohesion, designed to promote the region's resources and engage local communities in a shared and sustainable development journey.
