Stellar living nativity scene - Very good actors, very beautiful costumes. Rich in characters. All this immersed in a fairytale setting. You can't not go.

Evocative experience, bad organization - Experience full of charm but also of strong contradictions. The city is beautiful and lends itself in a natural and suggestive way to the representation of the living nativity scene. Tickets can be purchased online in advance, which is advisable, or on site, with the real risk of not finding availability. The ticket compulsorily includes the guided tour, an understandable and necessary choice: the nativity scene itinerary includes a recited theatrical component, with actors performing for groups at cadenced times, a mode that would be unmanageable with free and uncontrolled entrances. It must be recognized that the actors are really very good and deserve great appreciation also for the willingness to act for hours in the cold. That said, the organization leaves much to be desired. The experience begins with a first wait of about 20 minutes in a square, run by overly aggressive and out-of-context security personnel, who shouted orders to families with children as if they were facing groups of ultras at the stadium. After this phase, you are advanced a few tens of meters to face a second wait of about 30 minutes, followed by a third block, just ahead, where the wait has reached 35 minutes. All outdoors, in the cold and wind of the evening of Matera, stopped in the center of the square without shelter. Only at that point the group is finally made to move and escorted through the Sassi to the entrance of the nativity scene, where the actual tour begins. The route takes about 45 minutes and develops through very narrow alleys, not suitable for large groups: it is often difficult to move easily and you can not always see the actors well. However, the quality of the interpretations remains indisputable, which manage to make the path engaging and suggestive. Summing up: would I recommend it? Yes, for the artistic value and unique context. Would I do it again? No, for logistics management that heavily penalizes the overall experience.

Beautiful Matera, disappointing the living nativity scene. - The city of Matera is truly beautiful and fascinating. The living nativity scene would be very beautiful, both for the very suggestive place where it was made, and also for the splendid acting by the various actors. Unfortunately, the poor organization makes the nativity scene disappointing to say the least. It is simply unacceptable that after paying the beauty of 12€ per person, they let in an excessive number of people for each time slot and this does not allow you to see several scenes. I'm sorry, but I strongly advise against going to see this nativity scene. If you want to go to Matera which is a beautiful city, to see many other things, but not the living nativity scene.

Two stars are too many ⭐️⭐️ - Actors: very good and professional, well prepared Route: dispersive, rough, poorly lit, not recommended for dogs and children under five/six years Crowding: excessive. Groups of 150 people, impossible to see every scene and enjoy the highlights Management: very poor. Rude, disrespectful lobby and guard staff, guests (paying) are treated like beasts of burden Services: absent Cost: 13.90€ per adult, with online presale Really excessive compared to what is offered Stars: ⭐️⭐️ two, as compared to the great commitment of the actors

I do not recommend quality price - Personally I do not recommend a visit to the nativity scene as quality price there is no valid feedback. Theatrical nativity scene made of monologues, often boring and binding. It is not possible to view freely because they are bound to the previous and subsequent groups of the various tourists. In other famous nativity scenes, where admission costs much less, I have always well appreciated the setting of that in its details and veracity, such as admiring the making of cheese and fresh dairy products, pasta, pettole, biscuits, wine etc... here instead all fake! To do justice of course only the beauty of the stones of Matera. Go to Matera, beautiful as always, but personally I do not recommend the entrance to the nativity scene.

Living nativity scene overrated - I was deeply disappointed. The living nativity scenes in my area, in Cilento, are definitely more beautiful, engaging and, above all, free. Paying such high amounts between accommodation and show tickets is definitely not worth it. Furthermore, there is no facility or adequate organisation for people with disabilities. The event is reduced to less than ten scenarios, in which the audience crowds to watch short theatrical skits, often with themes not suitable for children. Both children and adults, exposed to wind and cold, end up bored, with the risk of getting sick. The organization is lacking from the entrance: the presence of security personnel blocking the passage every few meters makes the experience not very fluid and frustrating. It is a real shame, because the suggestive setting of the Sassi of Matera lends itself perfectly to the representation of the Nativity. Not surprisingly, the next morning we decided to visit the Sassi independently with the children, and it was a beautiful experience.