Nativity scenes, or presepi, recreate the birth of Christ in Bethlehem with figures of the Holy Family, shepherds, the Magi and animals. The tradition is often traced to St. Francis of Assisi, who staged a living nativity at Greccio in 1223, and elaborate carved scenes became a cherished art form in Italy and the Alpine regions.
The Dominican Church (Chiesa dei Domenicani) in Bolzano, South Tyrol, is a Gothic church founded in the 13th century, known for the frescoes of its Chapel of St. John painted by artists of the school of Giotto.
