The Nativity Scene of Costa at Borgo Rivola

In depth

What it is

The Presepe della Costa is a mechanical artistic nativity scene set up in the parish church of Costa, in Borgo Rivola, a small hamlet in the municipality of Riolo Terme, in the province of Ravenna, on the hills of the Vena del Gesso Romagnola. It is a representation of the Nativity with moving scenes, handmade by the parish community.

What makes it special

The distinguishing feature is the mechanical technique: the settings move and transform before visitors' eyes. The display unfolds in two scenes. The first shows the industrious normality of a day, with household and field activities; then, with a curtain scene change, the story transforms into the night of the Nativity, with the starry sky, the illuminated stable, the ox moving its head and angels descending from above. Figures and settings are made entirely from reclaimed materials, cardboard, plaster and papier-mâché, handcrafted by parish volunteers. The location also contributes to the display's charm: the small church of Costa, in the heart of the village, surrounded by the landscape of the Vena del Gesso.

Origins and history

Available sources do not precisely record who conceived the nativity scene or the year of its first creation. The work is linked to the long history of the parish of Costa, led for over half a century by don Sante Orsani, archpriest of Borgo Rivola from 1968 until his death in July 2024, at 90 years of age. Under his guidance the small community built an identity strongly tied to its church, and the mechanical nativity scene, created and progressively renewed by parish volunteers, has become one of the characteristic Christmas events of the area, included among the offerings of the nativity scene festival of the Terre di Faenza. It is not documented whether and how the display changed after don Sante's passing.

What to see

Entering the church of Costa, visitors find a large animated nativity scene, populated by small moving figures engaged in the daily work of a country village: houses, stables, fields and miniature tools, all built with cardboard, plaster and papier-mâché. At a certain point the scene darkens, a curtain descends and rises on a new scene, that of the night of Bethlehem, with the illuminated grotto, the Holy Family, the ox moving and angels descending from the starry sky. The contrast between daily work and the mystery of the birth is the heart of the representation.

When and how to visit

The nativity scene is traditionally set up during the Christmas period, generally from mid-December until the end of January, without this guaranteeing the same dates every year. In the last documented edition, from 17 December 2017 to 28 January 2018, it was open to visitors on Sundays and the day before public holidays from 2pm to 6pm; on other days visits were possible by telephoning the parish. Admission was free. Being an entirely parish-run and voluntary initiative, it is advisable to check with the parish of Costa or with the Pro Loco of Riolo Terme for the dates and times of the current edition before planning a visit.