In depth
What it is
The Presepe animato della Basilica di San Rufillo is a mechanical and sound nativity scene set up every year inside the basilica minore di San Rufillo, in the centre of Forlimpopoli, in the province of Forlì-Cesena. It is not a static Nativity, but a true miniature theatrical narrative: animated scenes, lights and audio commentary accompany the visitor on a journey that each year chooses a different episode from the life of Jesus or from the Holy Scriptures, combining spectacle with an intent of catechesis.
What makes it special
What makes this nativity scene unique is above all the technique with which it is built: the scenery is made entirely of plaster and wood, hand-painted, on an opening stage front that occupies about 16 square metres. The moving figures are about forty, in two sizes (19 and 30 centimetres), hand-dressed with great attention to detail. The entire apparatus is controlled by two microprocessor electronic control units that operate electric motors and servomotors, trapdoors, lifts, revolving platforms and motorised doors, making the scenes appear and disappear at the moments planned in the narrative. The play of lights, designed to reproduce the effects of day and night, and the narrator's voice that changes with each edition complete a display that is renewed every Christmas with a different theme.
Origins and history
Available sources do not document precisely who conceived the nativity scene nor the exact year of the first edition: it is known that it has been set up for over a quarter of a century in the basilica, and that since 2008 each edition has developed a different narrative theme, drawn from the life of Jesus or from a passage of Scripture. Over the years the nativity scene has expanded in technique and scenery, whilst maintaining the same formula: an animated story, told scene by scene with audio support. The offerings collected from visitors are traditionally destined for charitable works: in the 2025 edition, dedicated to the theme 'Vi lascio la pace, vi do la mia pace. Pace disarmata e disarmante', the proceeds were allocated to a missionary project in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, where the Villaregia missionary community operates.
What to see
The route winds through different settings populated by figurines in synchronised movement, which come to life one after another following the thread of the narrative chosen for the current edition. Trapdoors that open, platforms that rotate, doors that swing open at the right moment punctuate the narration, whilst lights and sound recreate daytime and night-time atmospheres and a narrator guides the visitor scene by scene. The result is something between a traditional nativity scene and a small mechanical theatre, designed to fascinate adults and children alike and, at the same time, offer a reflection of faith.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene traditionally opens on Christmas Day and remains open for several weeks, until early February. In the last edition the opening hours were: on weekdays from 9am to 6pm, on Saturdays from 9am to 7pm, on public holidays from 8.30am to 7pm (the nativity scene closes during religious services). Admission is free, with a voluntary offering to support missionary works. For the dates and times of the current edition it is always advisable to check the official website or the basilica's channels before visiting, as they may vary from year to year.
