Santa Maria La Scala is a pretty village and harbour in the province of Catania. One of its finest buildings is the 17th Century Mother Church which overlooks the sea. The Grotta del Presepe, or Grotto of the Crib, is adjacent to the church. This winding lava ravine was once used as a refuge by bandits as well as fishermen as far back as the 18th Century. It was altered and became the Cave at Bethlehem when a crib was placed here with 32 life-sized figures. The figures had wax faces and were dressed in sumptuous clothes.
