In this year’s exhibition of nativity scenes, the National Museum Zurich will be showing how Ticino prepares for Christmas. There are also beautiful objects from all over Switzerland and historic Advent calendars to admire.

Not only is Ticino the sunniest place in Switzerland, but it’s also the country’s nativity scene capital. North of the Gotthard, nativity figures can usually be found in the living room, but in the south people do things on a grander scale. A touch of this southern magic is blowing through the National Museum Zurich this year.

Renowned Ticino nativity scene creators Flavio and Lucio Negri have made a nativity scene model specially for the exhibition in Zurich. With loving attention to every detail, father and son use materials such as polystyrene and plaster to create Christmas worlds large and small that delight audiences in Switzerland and beyond. In addition to this Ticino highlight, this year’s exhibition features nativity scenes from all over Switzerland, produced using a wide range of materials: from wood and wax to clay and paper.

Speaking of paper: the nativity scenes are complemented by a display of historical Advent calendars and an extensive and varied accompanying programme of events and activities for families.