Bethlehem Reborn. The Wonders of the Nativity

An inspiring journey through art, faith and hope. For the 2025 Jubilee, the museums of the monumental complex of San Salvatore in Lauro are hosting the Roman leg of a multimedia touring exhibition that recounts a place symbolic of humanity through the voices of pilgrims, restorations and archaeological finds.

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built on the site traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. A complex restoration project lasting around 10 years has brought the church back to its former glory after centuries of neglect and deterioration. The exhibition, curated by Alessandro Fichera, Taisir Hasbun and Tommaso Santi and promoted by the Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Holy See, offers a unique opportunity to walk through the church’s history, admiring the mosaics, columns and crafted woods that through the centuries made this place a real treasure of civilization.

The exhibition is divided into five sections that follow a chronological order. Texts, images and videos take us from the simple grotto venerated by the early Christians and the Constantinian-era basilica to the superb building that was erected at the end of the sixth century by Emperor Justinian, which later on was fortified and decorated by the knights who founded the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem. After showing the long period of decline that began in the 14th century, the exhibits extend to the present day, with the restoration project started in 2013 and funded by the Palestinian Government with the support of the international community, harmonizing the requests of the three religious congregations that manages the church, the Greek Orthodox, the Franciscan and the Armenian. At the end of the exhibition, a longer video reveals the rebirth of the church.