In depth
What it is
"In viaggio con i Re Magi" is a living nativity scene in the form of a large itinerant parade that takes place in the historic centre of Rimini on Epiphany Day, 6 January. It is not a static display set up for weeks, but a moving procession that re-enacts the journey of the Magi to Bethlehem, brought to life by hundreds of participants, choirs and musicians. The event is organised by Made Officina Creativa in collaboration with the Municipality and Diocese of Rimini and numerous local organisations.
What makes it special
The distinctive feature of this living nativity scene is its choral and multicultural dimension: the procession brings together around 400 participants from ten different nations, including Peru, Venezuela, Hungary, Senegal, Romania, the Philippines and China, in traditional costumes and dress from their respective countries. The parade also includes several choirs, groups of musicians, soloists and some horses. Another unusual element is the setting: not a grotto or a single square, but the entire historic centre of Rimini, with a spectacular arrival of the Magi by water at the Ponte di Tiberio and a central square transformed for the occasion into the "square of Bethlehem".
Origins and history
The current format was born in January 2024 from a series of meetings promoted by the Bishop of Rimini with administrators and representatives of the foreign communities present in the city, with the aim of enhancing their presence and fostering integration through the feast of Epiphany, understood as an occasion of universal openness. The initiative also draws on the legacy of previous experiences: a living nativity tradition carried on for over twenty years by the school of Miramare and, further back in time, a civic re-enactment promoted about eighteen years earlier by the association Ponte dei Miracoli. Since then the event has been repeated every 6 January, growing in the number of participants and in collaborations with parishes, schools, scout groups and local associations.
What to see
The procession begins with the arrival of the Three Kings by water, near the Ponte di Tiberio, an ancient Roman bridge that leads into the historic centre. From here the parade winds along Corso d'Augusto to Piazza Cavour, set up as the Bethlehem of the Nativity, and then continues towards the Tempio Malatestiano. Along the route, traditional music and dances from the different countries represented alternate with choir singing, historical and folk costumes, and the presence of animals, in a sequence of living tableaux that interweaves the Gospel narrative with the cultural traditions of the foreign communities resident in Rimini.
When and how to visit
The event takes place once a year, on the evening of 6 January, Epiphany Day. In the last documented edition the parade took place from approximately 5pm to 7pm, starting from the Ponte di Tiberio and finishing at the Tempio Malatestiano. Admission is free: simply reach the historic centre of Rimini and follow the route of the procession along the streets and squares involved. For dates and times of the current edition it is advisable to check the channels of the Municipality of Rimini or the organiser Made Officina Creativa before visiting.
