December 18, 2010. The Nativity scene of the street cleaners in Rome has been one of the most visited Nativities by Popes in history. It has been dubbed the street cleaners' Nativity because that was the profession of the creator when he began displaying his work in 1972.


Giuseppe Ianni
Street Cleaner and Nativity Creator
“It shows day and night time, the trees are accurately presented, the layout, the houses, we tried to make everything representative to the Palestine of 2000 years ago.”

The Nativity consists of 100 houses constructed down the smallest details that include doors, windows, and even smoking chimney's.  

Mr. Ianni improves the Nativity each year adding features that he often finds from outside his home country of Italy.  

Giuseppe Ianni
Street Cleaner and Nativity Creator
“The stones at the base come from all parts of the world, besides Italy, there are over 350 stones from various nations. It's as if this crib were unifying all people in front of Jesus.”

Over the years the street cleaners' Nativity has drawn local politicians, Popes, and tourists from around the world.  

For Mr. Ianni this has become a deep source of pride.

Giuseppe Ianni
Street Cleaner and Nativity Creator
“Three Holy Fathers have come to visit the Nativity.  Pope Paul VI in 1974 and then from 1978 to 2002 John Paul II came 24 times, in 2005 and 2006 Pope Benedict XVI visited. We  also had the Mother Teresa of Calcutta here for a visit.”

Since it's beginnings the Nativity has drawn about two million Romans to visit and has been called “a precious stone set in the Aurelio neighborhood, only a few meters from the Vatican.”

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