Museo del Presepio di Trieste

About the museum

The Museo del Presepio di Trieste opened on 15 October 2003, set up by the Associazione Triestina Amici del Presepio, and is housed in the former Damiano Chiesa primary school in the Servola district. In about 400 m² it preserves and displays over a thousand nativity works that bear witness to the art and creativity linked to local and regional traditions and to those of many countries around the world.

The route is laid out in six themed rooms. It opens with a tribute to the Christian denominations present in the city, through polystyrene replicas of Trieste’s churches, and continues with historic nativity scenes set in Palestine, dioramas that reproduce 15th-century paintings in three dimensions, and the room dedicated to Trieste, where the Nativity is placed among views of the city in the past. Then come the “teatrini di carta” (paper theatres), the nativity scenes of the different national traditions, and works made from unusual materials such as cigarette filters, shells, cardboard, cork and terracotta.

The main hall displays a large szopka from Kraków and a folk painting of the 18th-century Cusco school (Peru); the collection is enriched by numerous private donations. At the entrance are two large mechanical nativity scenes, the “Tonini” and the “Mercato”. On request, a library and a collection of DVDs on the nativity are available to consult.

Highlights

• Over a thousand nativity scenes in six rooms
• Nativity scenes set among views of Trieste and replicas of the city’s churches
• Two large mechanical nativity scenes at the entrance
• Szopka from Kraków and painting from the Cusco school
• Nativity scenes made from unusual materials, such as cigarette filters

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione permanente di presepi – Over a thousand nativity scenes in six rooms: historic ones, those from Trieste, from other countries and those made from unusual materials, plus two mechanical nativity scenes.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Associazione Triestina Amici del Presepio APS

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is in the Servola district.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

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