Planning
The living nativity of Pezze di Greco: a rock village at Christmas, 45 minutes from Brindisi
Quick answer
The living nativity of Pezze di Greco is staged in the Lama del Trappeto, a ravine with a rock village, near Fasano in the province of Brindisi, about 45 minutes by car from Brindisi old town. The last edition (the 37th, 2025-26) opened on 26, 27 and 28 December and on 3, 4 and 6 January, from 16:00 to 21:00. Entry is booked online. The 2026-27 dates are not out yet: they usually follow the same pattern, between Boxing Day and Epiphany.
What it is
Every Christmas the people of Pezze di Greco, a village of Fasano, bring the Nativity to life inside the caves and rock dwellings of the Lama del Trappeto. Young and old take part, and the scenes blend the peasant traditions of the area with the story of the Nativity. It started in 1987, and Il Sole 24 Ore called it perhaps the most popular living nativity in the whole region.
Dates and hours: last edition and 2026-27
| 2025-26 edition | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20 December | Procession of the performers at 17:00, Mass at 18:30 in Santa Maria del Carmine, concert at 20:00 |
| Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 December | 16:00 to 21:00 |
| Saturday 3, Sunday 4 January | 16:00 to 21:00 |
| Tuesday 6 January (Epiphany) | 16:00 to 21:00 |
| Wednesday 7 January | Schools only, 9:00 to 12:00 |
2026-27: the organisers have not yet published the programme. I update this page as soon as they do. Source for the table: the official programme of the 2025-26 edition.
Tickets and booking
Entry is booked online through the link on the official website, presepeviventepezzedigreco.it. The price is set each year (in 2022 it was 3 euro per person), so check it when you book. In past editions the nativity stayed open in light rain.
Book a time slot as early as you can for the weekend dates and for 6 January, the busiest evenings.
How to get there from Brindisi
By car it is about 45 minutes north of Brindisi, towards Fasano. Pezze di Greco is a small village and the evenings are busy, so leave early and follow the local signs for parking. There is no simple public transport for an evening visit, so a car is the practical choice.
Make a day of it: Ostuni is on the way, and its white old town is lovely and quiet in December (see our day trips from Brindisi and villages of the province).
Tips from a local
- Arrive at opening time, around 16:00: you see the ravine in the last daylight and the crowds are smaller than later in the evening.
- Wear shoes for uneven ground: the path runs over rock and earth inside the ravine.
- Dress warmly: December evenings are around 8 degrees and the ravine feels colder.
- With children: keep small ones close on the uneven path.
Christmas in Brindisi around it
Pair the nativity with the Christmas programme in Brindisi itself (markets in the Scuole Pie cloister, the papier-mâché nativity at the Bastione San Giacomo) and with the festive table at home: our Christmas in Puglia and New Year's Eve guides cover the whole week from 26 December to Epiphany.
Your Christmas base in Brindisi
BDS House is a whole home in Brindisi old town for up to 6 guests, with a full kitchen for the Christmas Eve dinner and two private rooftop terraces. From here Pezze di Greco is about 45 minutes away and the airport 10. Book direct and you will find a Puglia welcome box prepared by my father. Check your dates.
Questions travellers ask
When is the Pezze di Greco living nativity in 2026?
The 2026-27 dates are not published yet. The last edition opened on 26, 27, 28 December and 3, 4, 6 January, from 16:00 to 21:00.
Where is Pezze di Greco?
It is a village of Fasano, in the province of Brindisi. The nativity is in the Lama del Trappeto rock village, about 45 minutes by car from Brindisi.
Do you need to book?
Yes, entry is booked online through the official website.
How much does it cost?
The price changes each year; in 2022 it was 3 euro per person. Check when you book.
Is it open if it rains?
In past editions it stayed open in light rain. In heavy weather check the official channels on the day.
Sources and further reading
- Presepe Vivente di Pezze di Greco, programme 2025-26 (official)
- Il Sole 24 Ore, Pezze di Greco living nativity (19 December 2025; since 1987)
- Osservatorio Oggi, how to book the entry (2022-23 edition, price and rain policy)
Last checked on 16 October 2026. Dates of the 2026-27 edition to be confirmed by the organisers.
