Presepio Vivente in Barga

As in previous years, we went into Barga on the night before Christmas Eve to enjoy the Presepio Vivente - or "Living Crib". This takes the form of a marked trail through the streets of the town, where can be seen many tableaux of scenes and crafts of times gone by.  In its midst are Mary,Joseph and a donkey which wend their way slowly upwards to the denouement at midnight - the production of a real live baby!

At the Porta Reale, Barbara inspects the making of foccacia from hand-ground flour

Ironing the clothes with a charcoal-fired iron.  

An atmospheric street scene, with laundry

Two looms used to weave silk cloth - in the past it was a major industry in the region

The presepio gives onlookers the chance to peek into many of the old palazzos of the town

The holy couple, and donkey, just visible entering one of the many piazzas thronging with people