The picturesque borgo of Greccio, a small jewel nestled on the slopes of Mount Lacerone, offers visitors natural beauty and a very intense artistic and cultural heritage. It is considered the birthplace of the Christmas tradition of the Nativity Scene, which was first created here by Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis’s wish to re-enact the birth of Jesus had grown after visiting Palestine and Greccio reminded him of Bethlehem. So, on Christmas Eve of 1223, helped by the castle’s custodian, he chose a cave where he planned to build a manger and bring an ox and a donkey. According to the Saint’s biographies, a baby appeared inside the manger during a service and Francis picked him up and held him in his arms. Every year, during the Christmas season, this miracle is re-enacted. The cave is now part of the Franciscan Sanctuary that clings to a rocky ledge among an oak forest. Traces of the borgo’s fortifications and parts of the old castle are still visible. Its highest tower was transformed into the bell tower of the adjacent Church of San Michele Arcangelo on the hilltop, which houses several frescoes and works of art dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries.