Manarola’s World-Famous Christmas Hill

Every winter, the amphitheater of terraces overlooking Manarola is illuminated by the world’s largest eco-friendly Nativity scene. The mastermind behind this wonder was Mario Andreoli, a local railway worker whose life was deeply intertwined with his community. His legacy is defined by patience, heritage, and a profound respect for the local landscape—a project started completely by chance that evolved into a hallmark event for the Cinque Terre area.

The timeline opens in 1961. Tasked by his father with repairing a damaged cross on the family property, Mario decided to experiment by wiring the structure to a car battery. This single creative spark triggered a lifelong passion.

Year after year, the single cross expanded into a full nativity set, adding a manger, the guiding star, and dozens of accompanying characters. The luminous project scaled the hillside incrementally, adapting to the steep terrain and the layout of the vineyards, ultimately turning the Tre Croci ridge into a massive visual storytelling display.

Current editions of the display feature upwards of 17,000 light bulbs and 250 life-size figures constructed entirely from scrap metal and recycled elements. More than a tourist attraction, it reflects the area’s agricultural history, paying homage to the farmers who built the dry-stone walls and cultivated these vertical slopes for centuries.

Following Andreoli’s passing in 2022, the tradition has been safeguarded by the Associazione Presepe di Manarola – Mario Andreoli, operating alongside the Cinque Terre National Park and the local municipality to ensure the hill continues to shine every holiday season.