In depth
What it is
The Mostra dei presepi di Mezzano is an exhibition of nativity scenes set up in the hamlet of Mezzano, in the municipality of Ravenna, organised by the voluntary association Percorsi odv in collaboration with Pawa asd. It is held in a hall in Piazza della Cooperazione, the heart of the village's social life, and brings together nativity scenes created by those who have chosen to take part: local schools, families, individual citizens, local associations and the parish. It is not a showcase of major professional artistic works, but a community exhibition, designed to bring together different generations and abilities around a shared theme.
What makes it special
What sets this exhibition apart from other nativity displays is its open competition format, with precise rules: each nativity scene must not exceed 60 by 60 centimetres, can be made vertically, horizontally or as a picture, and using any material and technique, giving participants complete creative freedom. Each author may submit more than one work. There are therefore no large scenographies or mechanical movements as in other nativity scenes in the region, but a multitude of small works, each different from the next, the result of the handiwork of children, families and adults from the village, displayed side by side in a single space. The public itself becomes an active part of the exhibition, as it is called upon to vote for its favourite nativity scenes, determining the winners.
Origins and history
The exhibition was born in 2025 as an entirely new initiative: this is in fact its first edition. The idea was proposed by two parents from Mezzano, Pasquale Curiello and Luca Casadei, with the aim of enriching the village's Christmas. The president of Percorsi odv, Lidia Ricci Lucchi, explained the reasons for the initiative by speaking of the need to keep local traditions alive and pass them on and, at the same time, to build community through the rediscovery of manual skills and art. The nativity scene was chosen as a common language capable of uniting different generations and cultures and strengthening the sense of belonging to the village. As there have been no previous editions, the exhibition does not yet have a past history to tell, but represents the start of a tradition that the association intends to consolidate over the years.
What to see
In the hall set up in Piazza della Cooperazione, the nativity scenes created by participants are displayed, delivered in the days before the opening and arranged together, each within the maximum format specified in the rules. The opening of the exhibition is accompanied by a small village event: a creative market, entertainment for children by Tata Fata, a Christmas workshop organised by Pawa asd, refreshments offered to those present and the presence of Father Christmas throughout the day, with live music. At the end of the exhibition period, the prize-giving takes place, as part of the village's Festa del Natale: the public, with their votes, determines the winners in the Scuole and Cittadini categories, who are presented with commemorative plaques for the top three in each category.
When and how to visit
The exhibition is usually held during the Christmas period, in December. In the last edition, the first in its history, it was open from 14 to 21 December 2025, with the opening on Sunday 14 December at 11 am, while the prize-giving took place on 21 December during the Festa del Natale. Visits do not follow fixed opening hours, but are by appointment, by telephoning 348 7944757; admission is free. For this information, as well as the dates of any future editions, it is advisable to contact Percorsi odv directly, based at Piazza della Repubblica 10 in Mezzano, by writing to percorsimezzano@gmail.com.
