The Manarola Nativity Scene, The Largest in the World

The largest nativity scene in the world is located in Italy! More precisely, in Manarola, the beautiful village of the Cinque Terre, where each year at Christmas a unique spectacle takes place: the lighting of the Nativity Scene on the hill.

The Manarola Nativity Scene will be lit as per tradition on December 8, 2024.

This year the historic nativity scene will blow out its 61 candles. Here are the photos and information to admire the largest nativity scene in the world.

In 1976, a retired railway worker, Mario Andreoli, built the largest nativity scene in the world on a hill in Manarola.

The man spent 30 years covering the entire hill of Manarola with his lights and figures, creating a Guinness World Record nativity scene.

The recognition occurred in 2007 when it was declared a record nativity scene for its size. The following year, a solar power system was specially built to power the lights with clean energy.

To create the Nativity Scene, about 8 kilometers of electric cables, 17,000 light bulbs, and more than 300 life-sized figures, all made from recycled materials, are used.

The nativity scene is set up from December 8 until early January 2025 on the Hill of the Three Crosses where, every day at sunset, the Nativity Scene made of over 250 figures is illuminated.