Esposizione di Presepi Artistici

If you plan to be in Stresa during the Natale season then a not-to-be-missed attraction is the "Esposizione di Presepi Artistici." This show of presepi, nativity scenes, grows each year in size, stature, and locations. The heart of the exhibiton is on the islands of Isola Bella and Isola Pescatore, where there are more than two dozen presepi scattered around in interesting and sometimes unexpected places. Using the maps provided, it becomes a bit of a scavenger hunt to find them all, and a fantastic way to get a walk peeking into all the nooks and crannies of these islands that you might otherwise miss. And as described in last year's post, these are no ordinary presepi, but a private collection gathered from around the world.

This year, there is a new addition. And it started out as a live art performance. A group of graffiti artists gathered at Carciano recently, at the shore of the lake near the Lido Beach Club. Each was given a panel, and with spectators watching, each spray painted his version of a nativity scene. These painted panels were then moved to Isola Bella and Isola Pescatori, where they are now on display on the sides of buildings and walls.

(This is not the first time, btw, that Stresa has encouraged and organized a graffiti painting activity of this type. On a warm summer evening I watched in Piazza Cadorna as one artist painted a panel 10 meters long. His subject was a tribute to jazz. Nearby in the piazza a band played classic jazz tunes, the perfect inspiration and accompaniment for his work.)

Beginning just yesterday there are also presepi visible around Stresa itself, as many shops in the center of town and in Carciano have put presepi displays in their windows. The presepi maps are available at the Wunder Kammer shop on Isola Bella. The presepi all around town can be seen from now until the end of January 6.