THE FOURTH WISE MAN

 
2022-2023 edition [33rd year]

archive of past editions

 
themes, photos and curiosities of past editions

The Nativity in the Well

the original underground crib of the Pozzo della Cava with life-size animated characters

The fascinating setting

The idea is a simple one: to recreate the environment and the atmospheres of Palestine in the year zero with life-size animated characters. And we do this in the big Etruscan cave at the end of the underground archaeological itinerary of Pozzo della Cava, in the Medieval Quarter of Orvieto.

Historical research

Every year costumes, furnishings and elements of scenery are made as closely as possible to the originals in the time of Christ, and every year it’s a new challenge, with a new layout and a new leitmotif, with a careful eye for the visitor of the Christmas Crib, who is physically inside the crib.

The characters

The realistic characters of this unusual under-ground Crib are life-size self-moving figures, made with the materials and techniques of special effects employed in the theatres and movies.

The movements

And then we add to our characters the movements, with hidden low-tension mechanisms. From the 2013-2014 edition, in addition to the mechanical characters, some animatroni have been inserted on the scene, whose motors are driven by special integrated microprocessors, to increase the naturalness of the movements. Furthermore, the lights and other “special effects” such as fires, burning embers, smoke or boiling milk contribute to increasing the realism of the nativity scene, alternating and renewing in every setting.

More details on the theme and materials on the nativity scene are available in the Download section and in the specific section of our YouTube channel

36th Nativity in the Well

36th NATIVITY IN THE WELL

The cycle of the EXCLUDED continues with a very controversial character: Pontius Pilate

The 36th edition has the title "THE PREFECT OF JUDEA" and the narrative voice is that of the prefect who tried to save the life of Jesus, only to then give in to the cries of the crowd and send him to the gallows

From 23 December 2025 to 11 January 2026