In depth
What it is
The presepe of Gianluca and Annalisa is an artistic nativity scene set up every year inside the Oratorio di San Francesco di Paola, at piazza Garibaldi 10 in Sogliano al Rubicone, a hilltop village in Romagna also known for its celebrated formaggio di fossa cheese. It is not a traditional nativity scene set only in Bethlehem: the figurines and settings also recreate the symbolic places of the town, interweaving the Nativity with the identity of the territory. The display is part of the Christmas programme of the Municipality of Sogliano al Rubicone and can be visited free of charge during the festive period.
What makes it special
The distinctive feature of this presepe lies in its setting: alongside the grotto of the Nativity, the creators reconstruct in miniature the most characteristic corners of Sogliano al Rubicone, so that visitors to the oratory can recognise real glimpses of the village beside the biblical scenes. Another distinctive element is the setting itself: the Oratorio di San Francesco di Paola, a small eighteenth-century religious building overlooking piazza Garibaldi, in the heart of the historic centre. It is a presepe made by hand by two residents of the town, Gianluca and Annalisa, who give it their name and look after it personally year after year: a feature that makes it a homemade work rather than a large-scale or professionally produced piece.
Origins and history
Available sources do not document precisely the year in which Gianluca and Annalisa first created their presepe, nor do they recount in detail how the idea came about. What is certain is that the display has become a regular fixture of Christmas in Sogliano: the presepe was listed among the town's events as early as December 2023, during the Fiera del Formaggio di Fossa, and has returned for subsequent editions, including those of December 2024 and 2025/2026. Over time the Oratorio di San Francesco di Paola, an eighteenth-century building commissioned by Antonio Maria Marcosanti adjacent to Palazzo Nardini, has established itself as the permanent home of the work, becoming a small fixture of the local Christmas calendar alongside the markets and other initiatives promoted by the Municipality.
What to see
Inside the oratory visitors find an artistic presepe that interweaves the scene of the Nativity, with the grotto, the Holy Family, the shepherds and the Three Kings, with a miniature reconstruction of the best-known views of Sogliano al Rubicone. The route allows visitors to admire both the classic symbols of the Christian nativity scene and references to the town that hosts it, in an intimate setting that can be visited in a few minutes but rewards those who pause to appreciate the details of the display. The architectural setting itself, with the simple lines of the eighteenth-century religious building on piazza Garibaldi, contributes to the homely atmosphere of the visit.
When and how to visit
The presepe is set up every year during the Christmas period, generally from late November to late January, as part of the programme of initiatives of the Municipality of Sogliano al Rubicone. In the most recent edition, from 23 November 2025 to 31 January 2026, the oratory was open daily from 9am to 7pm, with free admission. For subsequent editions it is advisable to check updated dates and opening times with the Tourist Office of Sogliano al Rubicone, which can be reached on +39 0541 817340 or at ufficioturistico@comune.sogliano.fc.it, before planning your visit.
