Gangi living nativity "Da Nazareth a Betlemme"

The living nativity “Da Nazareth a Betlemme” is staged every year from 26 to 29 December in the Santa Lucia quarter, in the old town of Gangi. More than 200 performers tell the story of Jesus from Nazareth to the Nativity along the alleys, ending at the grotto set up beneath the Torre dei Ventimiglia. Entry is in groups, every half hour from 5 pm, with tickets booked online: in 2025 sales opened on 15 November and every year it sells out. The 2026 dates haven’t been announced yet.

When is it held?

The dates are stable: 26 to 29 December, the days between St Stephen’s Day and the end of the year.

Year	Edition	Dates	Times
2025	15th	26-29 December	every half hour from 5 pm to midnight
2024	14th	26-29 December	13 performances a day, 5 pm to 11 pm

Tickets: how and when to book

Entry is in groups at a fixed time, and tickets are bought in advance on the official website. In 2025 sales opened on Saturday 15 November at 9 am (Madoniedintorni), and the organisers warn that it sells out every year. There’s only one piece of advice: in early November, keep an eye on the website and the association’s Facebook page.

What you’ll see

The Santa Lucia quarter becomes the Palestine of two thousand years ago. In the alleys there are shepherds with their flocks, merchants, priests and craftsmen, scenes of everyday life of the time and the military presence of Rome, with Herod, his court and the soldiers. Characters, music, lights and a narrator’s voice guide the audience from one scene to the next.

The most powerful scenes, according to Madonie Press, are the appearance of the Angel and the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, acted out on the staircase leading under the arches of the 14th-century Torre dei Ventimiglia, where the Nativity grotto is recreated. The scenes are strictly religious.

In 2024 the Gangi nativity was chosen for the Advent calendar of Frate Indovino, in the section on nativity scenes of the islands.

Who makes it

The living nativity grew out of an idea by Gangi’s Forum Giovani youth group. It is organised by the association “Da Nazareth a Betlemme”, with support from the town council. It is directed by Carmelo Domina and Peppuccio Ballistreri, who tweak some scenes and add new ones every edition; the music is by Giovanni Germanà, historical advice by Stefano Sauro and Luciano Inguaggiato. The town’s associations, the Pro Loco and the parish all take part.

Practical tips

• Dress warmly. Gangi sits at 1,011 metres and the route is outdoors, in the evening. Check the Gangi weather: the nativity goes ahead in the rain too.
• Arrive early for your slot, to park and walk to the Santa Lucia quarter. Official sources don’t list dedicated car parks; the nativity website mentions a campervan stopover area in town.
• Road. From Palermo it’s about 116 km and an hour and 40 minutes, via the Tremonzelli exit on the A19 and then the SS120; from Catania about 145 km and 2 hours, via the Irosa exit. In winter 2025-2026 ANAS required snow chains on board or winter tyres on a stretch of the SS120: check our guide to getting to the Madonie by car.
• Where to stay. Book early on where to stay in Gangi. For dinner there’s where to eat in Gangi.

In nearby Petralia Soprana there’s the Presepe d’InCanto, a nativity with sculptures and video mapping that is also open between 26 and 28 December: you can see both on the same days. By the sea, Cefalù has the Via dei Presepi. The rest of the town is on the Gangi page and under events in Gangi.