Our presepio depicts the birth of Christ amidst traditional 16th-century Italian village life. It is made up of dozens of figurines and vignettes, sculpted by artists and collected as a set.

Italian, Neapolitan presepio, ca. 1700-1830, painted and gessoed wood, terracotta, fabric, and mixed media; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George Wycoff; Courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Art

Presepio Tours

Hall of Architecture

Free with admission

Want to know about our exquisite Italian nativity scene, the presepio? Ask an expert! We'll have docents ready to answer your questions and show you the amazing details that makes this 18th-century artwork a can't miss holiday destination. They're available every day from 1:00–3 p.m.

A visit to Carnegie Museum of Art’s Neapolitan presepio, one of the finest Nativity scenes of its kind, has been a Pittsburgh holiday tradition since 1957. Handcrafted between 1700 and 1830, the presepio teems with lifelike figures and colorful details that re-create the Nativity within a vibrant and detailed panorama of 18th-century Italian village life. More than 100 superbly modeled human and angelic figures, along with animals, accessories, and architectural elements, cover 250 square feet and create a memorable depiction of the Nativity as seen through the eyes of Neapolitan artisans and collectors.