Italy: Assisi lights up at Christmas with Giotto frescoes

Rome: The Italian town of Assisi, in the central Umbria region, will project images of Giotto’s Nativity frescoes onto the façade of the Basilica of St Francis over the Christmas season.

The video-mapping project, which was hugely popular last year, will see Giotto’s Nativity scenes beamed onto the exterior of the Basilica di S. Francesco, dedicated to Italy’s patron saint, as well as on other landmarks around the pilgrimage town.

The video projections of Giotto’s celebrated frescoes, from 8 December until 10 January, will also include the Cathedral of S. Rufino, the Basilica of S. Chiara and the Abbey of S. Pietro.

Stars will illuminate the path between the video-mapping sites which will be accompanied by life-size sculptures and colourful artistic lighting on the houses in the historic centre of the ancient town.

Each evening, from 17.00 to 22.00, every 30 minutes Giotto’s Nativity will be switched off and in its place a video-mapping show will offer views of the basilica’s interior.