In depth
What it is
The Presepe dei Cappuccini, also called Presepe dei Frati, is a large mechanical and animated nativity scene set up every year in the basement of the church of the Immacolata Concezione, known as the church of the Cappuccini, at the beginning of via Mazzini in Porretta Terme, a hamlet of the municipality of Alto Reno Terme, in the Bolognese Apennines. It is one of the best-known historic nativity scenes in the area and, during the festive season, attracts visitors from outside the region as well.
What makes it special
The space is immediately striking: the nativity scene occupies about 200 square metres in the basement of the church, with over 800 statues and around 200 small houses, in an unusual and highly scenic setting for a nativity scene. Numerous figures move mechanically to recreate trades and scenes of daily life in Palestine at the time of Jesus: the blacksmith, the potter, the cobbler, the weaver, the washerwoman at the river, the shepherd with his flock, the farmer, the vine grower. All this is accompanied by sound effects, such as the crowing of the cockerel, the bleating of sheep and the sound of the bagpipes, and by a sophisticated lighting system that also simulates thunderstorms, moonlight and the star of Bethlehem. It is entirely the handiwork of two people, who over the years have personally overseen every scenic and electrical detail.
Origins and history
The nativity scene was created in 2000 on the initiative of Leonardo Antonelli, who oversaw the scenographic aspect, and Francesco Mascagni, responsible for the electrical, electronic and lighting effects. Since then the installation has progressively expanded to include, in addition to the Nativity, episodes from the public life of Jesus up to the Passion and Resurrection. The church that houses it has an older history: the land was donated in 1857 by the Nanni brothers to build a church and convent for the Cappuccini; work began the following year and, pending completion, the same underground space now occupied by the nativity scene was adapted as a temporary chapel. The church was completed in 1878 and the convent in 1882; the Cappuccini friars remained there until 2005, when the entire complex was entrusted to the parish of Porretta Terme. There are no documented phases of the nativity scene prior to 2000.
What to see
Descending into the large basement, visitors follow a route of animated scenes that recreate places in Palestine two thousand years ago, such as Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Lake Tiberias and Jericho, among craft workshops, animals, hilly landscapes and lighting effects that simulate the alternation of day and night. The moving figures bring to life trades that have now disappeared, while the ambient sounds make the atmosphere particularly immersive for young and old alike. At the centre of the route is naturally the grotto of the Nativity, towards which all the scenes converge.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is set up every year for the Christmas holidays, with opening traditionally running from the first days of December until the end of January. In the most recent edition, between 8 December 2025 and 31 January 2026, it was open on 8, 9, 10, 16 and 17 December, then every day from 23 December to 31 January, with opening hours 9am-12pm and 4pm-6pm. Admission is free, by donation. As the opening days and times are set each year, it is always advisable to check the updated dates on the nativity scene website or at the IAT tourist office of Alto Reno Terme before planning your visit.
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