Scafati. Immerse yourself in the magic of the nativity scene, with its meticulous attention to detail, the shepherds, the "piennoli," the caciocavallo cheeses, the pigeons on the balconies, and the Nativity. The nativity scene set up in the Church of Santa Maria delle Vergini in Scafati is a rare beauty. Created with passion, over months of labor, by Ciro Colantonio, a self-taught artisan from Scafati, it reinterprets the Christian symbolism of Christmas, the miracle that recurs every year on December 25th. For the sixth consecutive year, Colantonio has reimagined his idea of the nativity scene with a love that shines through from every angle and detail. Eighteen papier-mâché shepherds, crafted in Lecce way back in 1956 and expertly restored by this master craftsman, come to life among cork and cement houses constructed with meticulous attention to detail: tiles, balconies, fruit in crates, under a starry sky, frame the unique Nativity Grotto. Every detail is handcrafted, combining knowledge and technique, assembled piece by piece, and planned over months. Ciro Colantonio's nativity scene is truly admirable, in which the master craftsman has invested 60 years of experience—he created his first nativity scene when he was 11 years old—and deserves credit for having revived ancient shepherds that had been lying dormant for years in the Mother Church's cupboards, bringing them back to life and adorned with new colors. It's a nativity scene that relives the enchantment of the Nativity and Christmas. (rf)
EDITORIAL TEAM
Choose the social channel you want to subscribe to