Nativity Scene Museum at the Muri-Gries Monastery

The history of the Muri-Gries Monastery dates back to the 11th century. For centuries it used to be self-supporting, today, however, the Benedictine Monastery is a conventional vine-growing company producing 85% red wines and 15% white wines, maturing in the ancient cellar. The venerable building in Gries, a quarter of Bolzano, the main town of South Tyrol, also bears another treasure: the Romanesque tower of the former Gries Castle, today integrated into the convent, houses the Muri-Gries Nativity Scene Museum - "Krippenmuseum Muri-Gries" in German, "Museo dei Presepi Muri-Gries" in Italian.

What you can admire are Passion cribs, antique and oriental Nativity scenes as well as new exemplars. One portrayal even dates back to the mid-18th century. Also 40 figurines of folk arts are exhibited. In the last years in the Advent period and during the Bolzano Christmas Market, the road from the Talvera Bridge via the Corso della Libertà road to Gries has been decorated with Christmas cribs. This initiative, called "Nativity Scene Road", shows cribs from South Tyrol, various Italian regions, Tyrol and Poland in the vitirines of more than 100 shops.

By the way: In South Tyrol there are three more Nativity Scene Collections. The Maranatha Nativity Scene Museum is located in Lutago in the Valle Aurina valley, in addition there is the Stabinger Nativity Scene Collection in Sesto in the Upper Val Pusteria and the Nativity Scene Museum Original Heide in Pontives at the entrance of the Val Gardena valley. In the Val Gardena valley, however, there is the world's largest hand-carved nativity scene. And how to reach the Nativity Scene Museum at the Muri-Gries Monastery? In Gries there are some parking spaces (subject to charge), it's recommendable to use public transport, e.g. bus line 8 or 10 A from Piazza Walther square. By foot, Muri-Gries can be reached in a 20-minute walk from the historic district.