A “Street of Cribs” that from the very beginning has stood out for its creativity, originality and innovation. This is the “Street of Cribs in Castelfiorentino”’”, which from Sunday 8 December (3.30 p.m.) can be admired in all its renewed splendour, lending a particularly evocative atmosphere to the streets of the high town centre. Over twenty artistic and handcrafted nativity scenes created by the Castelfiorentino crib-makers in the sphere of “Terre dei Presepi”, of which Castelfiorentino is a founder and member, occupying the first position on the regional itinerary and a front row seat in Rome, on the steps of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore: it is here, in fact, that the Castelfiorentino crib builders are currently setting up their “Luminous Crib”, an idea exported also to Pieve Fosciana and Maresca, and that will be present this year not only at the Pieve di Sant’Ippolito (Piovanelli Park) but also in other areas of the historical centre of Castelfiorentino.
A “Street of Cribs”, that of Castelfiorentino, that does not limit itself to amazement, but seeks to communicate a message that will go straight to the hearts of visitors. One of the novelties that stands out is one of the nativity scenes set up in the former Mandamental Prison of Castelfiorentino (via Tilli), where a PC monitor has been placed inside a nativity scene, and next to the characters are dozens of mobile phones, with an emblematic inscription: “More passion, less connection. Less network, more faith”.
Also at the former prison (via Tilli, room 1) is the crib “An open door on hope”, created by the pupils of the local primary and nursery schools together with the “San Giuseppe” and “Santa Maria Goretti” parish nursery schools, as part of an interdisciplinary project coordinated by the teachers. A crib that intends to represent the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, and which is especially striking for the pilgrims, numerous and of many nationalities: a way to bring together the whole of humanity, on a journey to find the meaning and beauty of their lives. In Via Ferruccio, another original nativity scene: a cloth inspired by Benozzo Gozzoli’s “Cavalcade of the Magi”, centred on the art of embroidery and patchwork, which involved a dozen children and girls in collaboration with “Passi di Luce”, the “Knit Café” group (Ebe Ciampalini and Nicolina Camboni) and the elderly women of the “Ciapetti” rest home, the latter also involved in setting up their own nativity scene at the Pieve rest home. There will also be a nativity scene made with “Lego” pieces, a nativity scene made with recycled materials (near pubblic Lift), and numerous other handcrafted nativity scenes (such as the one in terracotta) resulting from the creativity of the Castelfiorentino nativity scene artists. There will also be the impressive “Meteorological Crib” at the Church of San Filippo, the already mentioned “Luminous Crib” and the one on the terrace of the Misericordia, with life-size characters.
Finally, there will also be a photographic exhibition at the Oratory of San Carlo, set up by the “Giglio Rosso” Photographic Group, which will be inaugurated at 4.00 p.m. in the presence of the Mayor, Francesca Giannì, and the Councillor for Culture, Franco Spina.
“As a child”, observes Councillor Franco Spina, “Christmas for me was to start preparing, as early as October, the nativity scene with Dad: making the design, looking for more figurines, gathering moss, getting busy making 2000 clay tiles and taking care of them (because the nativity scene is a living thing). The crib is a place of the soul, it smells of patience, of waiting, of magic, of communion of spirit. It is the story of a collective project that in the small manifests the great and can still make room for compassion, recollection and tolerance. It is a celebration of life, whether one believes it or not, to the extent that one participates in the joy of the shepherd and the breath of the donkey. The nativity scene is an act of love. A big thank you to our master crib builders, who this year, if possible, have outdone themselves even more, to MuDev, and in particular to Matteo Bensi and Edoardo Antonini for a unified promotion of all the Empolese Valdelsa cribs, and to the National Association Città dei Presepi, of which we are founders and members, in the person of Fabrizio Mandorlini”.
“The Street of Cribs” in Castelfiorentino will observe the following opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays 3.00-7.00 p.m. (closed 31 December). Info: tourist office +39 0571.629049.
