In depth
What it is
The presepe of Poggio alla Lastra is an artistic nativity scene set up every winter in the small hamlet of Poggio alla Lastra, a frazione of Bagno di Romagna, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, just a short distance from the Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi. Throughout the Christmas period, the streets, houses and church of the village are transformed into a large open-air setting, populated by life-size statues depicting the Nativity. It is one of the most beloved Christmas events in Romagna, attracting visitors from throughout the Bidente and Savio valleys.
What makes it special
What sets this nativity scene apart is the scale of the display: not a single diorama, but the entire historic hamlet, with its stone houses and narrow lanes, transformed into a stage set. The life-size statues are carefully placed among the old buildings, creating a route that visitors walk through as if stepping inside the Nativity scene itself. The result comes from collective effort: for months, the inhabitants of the village, together with friends and the nearby rifugio Trappisa di Sotto, work together to prepare figures, lights and decorations. Around the nativity scene revolves a small Christmas festival with music, theatre, craft markets and, on Epiphany Eve, the Pasquelle, ancient traditional Romagnol songs of good wishes carried from house to house.
Origins and history
No sources indicate a precise date of birth for the nativity scene nor the name of whoever conceived it: local chronicles only tell that, years ago, the inhabitants of Poggio alla Lastra began this Christmas tradition and that since then they have renewed it with passion every year, with the contribution of residents, friends of the village and the rifugio Trappisa di Sotto. The hamlet that hosts the nativity scene has a much older documented history: a notarial deed of 11 June 1175 already records the castle that stood there, destroyed together with the ancient church of Sant'Apollinare by the earthquake of 1584. The current church of Santi Pietro e Apollinare was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style in 1924, after the earthquakes of 1918 and 1919.
What to see
Strolling through the hamlet, visitors encounter the life-size statues of the Nativity, illuminated by sparkling lights, along with views of the village and the church of Santi Pietro e Apollinare. During the event, there are also markets with local products and crafts, live music, theatrical performances, Christmas-themed art workshops for children and the opportunity for trekking in the surrounding area, on the Romagna side of the Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentinesi. On Epiphany Eve the village comes alive with the Pasquelle, the traditional songs of good wishes sung from door to door.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is set up every year during the Christmas period, normally between early or mid-December and the first days of January; in the last documented edition it remained open from 6 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, daily from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm. Admission has always been free. The dates and times for the next edition are not yet confirmed at the time of writing: for updated information it is advisable to contact the IAT tourist office in Bagno di Romagna or consult the website of the associazione Trappisa di Sotto, which also maintains the page dedicated to the nativity scene.
