Four dates and one hundred participants in period costumes for an evocative journey of approximately 1 km through the caves, stalactites and stalagmites of the Castellana karst site, 70 metres below ground. These are the numbers of the Living Nativity Scene in the Castellana Caves (Ba), re-enactment of the nativity between past crafts and ancient traditions which can be visited on the days December 26, 27, 28, 2021, and January 2, 2022, starting at 17:30 PM.
Sponsored by UNPLI Puglia and the local branch of the Pro Loco "Don Nicola Pellegrino," directed by Lucio Giordano and featuring original music by Maestro Renato Giorgi, melodies provided by Edizioni Paoline, the traditional Living Nativity Scene will welcome visitors who will be immersed in an atmosphere of times gone by, taking an evocative underground journey that leads from the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary to the representation of the Nativity.
The journey through symbols of faith, history, and tradition will begin in the Grave, the first and largest cavern in the underground karst complex. Along the way, visitors will encounter iconic figures, such as women with amphorae going about their daily tasks, children, dancers, shepherds, a blacksmith, a ceramics repairman, a carpenter, a basket weaver, and washerwomen, as well as iconic sites such as the cloth market, the Roman centurion camp, and the fishermen's market.
The sacred representation featuring Saint Joseph, the Madonna, and Baby Jesus will be hosted in the Caverna della Fonte, while along the way it will also be possible to encounter the Three Wise Men heading towards the stable of the Nativity to offer gold, incense, and myrrh.
Scheduled within the rich calendar of events for the Christmas period “Winter Drops”, the Living Nativity Scene set in the Castellana Caves will also be an opportunity to admire the karst site with its unique concretions, as well as to immerse yourself in a unique and evocative atmosphere.
To access the tour, you must purchase your ticket exclusively online through TicketOne. You will also need to show your Super Green Pass. The temperature inside the caves hovers around 17°C, with very high humidity. More information on the calendar of Christmas events at the Castellana Caves is available at www.stilledinverno.it and on official social media.
