The "Enchanted Nights of Corippo" have attracted many enthusiastic visitors, and the nativity scenes are open to the public until the end of January.

The many visitors followed the soft light of a ribbon of stars and strolled through the narrow and steep streets of this ancient and picturesque village with its simple stone houses.

To make the atmosphere even more intimate, they were greeted by musicians playing soft melodies. A further touch of authenticity was provided by the stories of Palmira and Berto, recited by two of Corippo’s friends, who seemed to have sprung from the past and accompanied us through the three days of this intimate festival.

The nativity scenes are open to the public until the end of January

The undisputed masterpiece of Corippo’s enchanted nights is undoubtedly the magnificent nativity scene in the village church, which this year has two little sisters in the grotto of the info point on the village square behind the fountain. The three nativity scenes are rich in details and moving images that tell of the activities of earlier times, such as the millstone, the sawmill, the bubbling water or the polenta cooking on the fire.

The landscapes of the main nativity scene also offer breathtaking views: entire houses and even churches are real miniature replicas of the stone village. Their many details, including some mysterious ones such as the two wolves hiding from the eyes of the sheep, can only be discovered if you visit them. The nativity scenes can be viewed until the end of January.

The church will be open daily from 8 am to 10 pm.

If you would like to experience one last magical night in Corippo in 2023, you can attend Christmas mass in the village church on the evening of 24 December at 6 pm and enjoy a special Christmas menu in the osteria of the “Albergo diffuso” from 6.30 pm. The Osteria will also be offering a delicious Fondue Fribourgeoise until the end of the year (please book on 091 745 18 71).

The event “Le Notti incantate di Corippo” (The Enchanted Nights of Corippo), which delighted the audience, was the result of a collaboration between the parish and the Corippo Foundation. Among the visitors were many who had never been to this tiny historic village, the smallest in Switzerland, and also many descendants of families who had once lived in the village and wanted to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors, as well as many others who did not want to miss this poetic and intimate event. Everyone shared this enchanted atmosphere.

Un signore, confidando ad uno dei musicisti che nella casa accanto aveva vissuto la sua famiglia, si è detto felice: “Avete fatto una bella cosa, i nostri vecchi in cimitero in questo momento stanno sorridendo”. E noi vogliamo credergli.

A gentleman whose family used to live in one of the houses in the village cheerfully said to one of the musicians: “You have done a beautiful thing, at this moment the old people in our cemetery will surely be smiling”. And we want to believe that too.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this first special edition and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.