A floating Nativity scene has been installed in the waters around the island of Burano, in the northern part of the Venice lagoon, for the second year in a row. The magical spectacle, comprising 62 wooden shapes representing Nativity figures and animals, is located in an open stretch of water, without hindering boat traffic.

Inaugurated on 7 December, the Nativity was created by local resident Francesco Orazio, a greengrocer by trade but an artist at heart, who hand-crafted and painted each figure. It took Orazio and his brother two days to set up the installation, ensuring each plywood figure was fixed with stakes and anchored to the lagoon floor, interlinked with ropes.