The magic spirit of Christmas is
revived every year with the newborn Christ lying in the
manger, representing the Nativity and a symbol of peace.
The first nativity scenes date from the 16th Century and
were found in Italy and Spain, in churches and
principalities. The Nativity is today as it was then a
subject of inspiration for many artists, and its
presentation has since always played a major role in the
woodcarving tradition of Val Gardena.
Today many woodcarvers are reviving
this centuries old tradition in works reflecting
historical flair and contemporary taste. In its famous
exhibitions of wood-carved nativity scenes the
Gardena Art Woodcarvers’ Association shows its
prestigious works in all its various interpretations.
Gardena Art has displayed its
renowned nativity scenes in Corvara/Alta Badia, Sutrio
(UD), Capri, Sassuolo, San Giovanni in Persiceto, Venice,
Milan in the Piazza Duomo, Klagenfurt in Carinthia/Austria,
in Rosenheim (Germany) and in San Francisco (USA).
