Frank Mizzi’s “massive” nativity crib will be remembered by many Gozitans as a special place to visit during Christmas time when it used to be on public display in an exhibition space annexed to his house in Fountain Street, just off St Augustine’s Square, Victoria.

Those who do will probably recall that Christmas was not complete without a visit to this crib. Visitors could actually walk around the crib, and a proper visit, accompanied by the commentary, would easily take around 20 minutes.

Frank Mizzi started building this unique Christmas crib around 40 years ago, and it has remained a work in progress ever since, with new features added over the years.In 2019, Mizzi, now in his eighties, together with his wife Tarcisia, decided to donate this unique work of art to Il-Hagar Museum, in St George’s Square.

Il-Hagar explained that the crib was transferred from Mizzi’s house to the museum, where it was reconstructed by a team of volunteers under Mizzi’s supervision, and where it will remain on permanent display in the museum’s newly developed lower ground floor.

Work on the surrounding area, part of which will be interactive, is still in progress but will be finalised in the coming months, the museum said.

This project will be inaugurated by Mizzi himself and blessed by Museum Founder and Curator Mgr Dr Joseph Farrugia this Friday, the 22nd of November, at 7.30pm. Everyone is warmly invited to attend.

The Nativity crib can be visited during the museum opening hours of 9am to 5pm, seven days a week. Admission to Il-Hagar is free.

This project has been co-financed by the Gozo Action Group Foundation through the LEADER programme.

Photos: Il-Hagar Museum

Permalink: Frank Mizzi’s nativity crib on permanent display at Gozo’s Il-Hagar Museum