Section 9 - Devotional Objects and Nativity Scenes from the Albisola and Savona Tradition

According to tradition, the first nativity scene was performed on Christmas night in the year 1223 in Greccio, a small village in the province of Rieti, at the behest of St Francis of Assisi.Since then, the Nativity became an enduring and deeply rooted Italian tradition. Today, it remains at the heart of the work of many associations and permanent exhibitions across the country—like the one you are about to see here in the Val Varatella Ethnographic Museum.What was originally intended as a temporary, annual display has now become a permanent collection, preserving nativity scenes created by local families who, since the 19th century, have continued this tradition in their own homes. The typical terracotta shepherd figurines, known in popular tradition as “macachi,” were produced by the artisans of Albisola, skilled makers of nativity statuettes. For many centuries—up until around 1940—Toirano hosted the Santa Lucia Fair, an important occasion for the trade of these figurines. But the tradition goes beyond Albisola. Here you can also find “Bambinelli”—figures of the Christ Child—crafted from a variety of materials, including wood, wax, and papier-mâché, often produced in convent workshops. And if you are one of those people who wish it could always be Christmas, take a moment to explore the other 19th-century festive artefacts donated by local families. Finally, it’s worth remembering that each year during the Christmas season, Toirano hosts the Rassegna del Presepe Artistico—an exhibition of more than 200 nativity scenes displayed throughout the streets of a village rich in history and tradition!