In depth
What it is
The Presepe della Cattedrale is the Christmas nativity scene that volunteers from the Cattedrale di Imola set up every year in piazza Matteotti, the city's main square, dominated by the clock tower and the Palazzo Comunale. It is part of the broader programme "Imola a Natale", which brings the historic centre to life with lights, markets, concerts and events for all ages from late November until Epiphany. The nativity scene is placed next to the square's Christmas tree and becomes, together with the lights, one of the symbols of the opening of the festive season in the city.
What makes it special
What makes it distinctive is not so much its monumental scale as its being a community work: it is born from the efforts of the Cattedrale volunteers, who every year look after, assemble and dismantle the huts, statues and scenery. It stands outdoors, at the heart of the city's civic life, and not in a church or museum: this makes it visible to anyone passing through the square, by day and in the evening, when the Christmas lights illuminate it along with the rest of the centre. The public sources consulted do not report the exact number of statues, the materials or the construction technique used: these are details that the municipality and parish do not disclose in official communications, so it is not possible to state them with certainty.
Origins and history
The available sources do not document precisely who first conceived the nativity scene or the year of the first edition. It is nonetheless a well-established tradition: for several years now, at the end of November, the nativity scene has been reassembled by the Cattedrale volunteers in piazza Matteotti and blessed during the ceremony that inaugurates "Imola a Natale" and switches on the city lights. The blessing has been officiated in different years by figures from the diocese, such as the bishop of Imola or a delegated parish priest: in the most recent edition it was performed by a priest from the diocese. The sources consulted show no changes of location: the nativity scene has remained linked to piazza Matteotti for years.
What you see
Visitors find the Nativity scene set up in the open air, next to the Christmas tree, in the city's main square, with the Palazzo Comunale and the clock tower in the background. The nativity scene shares the square with the general Christmas decorations: lights and, in some editions, themed projections on the facade of the Palazzo Comunale. In the same square, in different years, other separate Christmas installations have also been set up by other organisations, such as one arranged in the premises of a local banking institution: these should not be confused with the nativity scene by the Cattedrale volunteers. Public sources do not describe in detail the individual figures or the internal scenery of this nativity scene.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is traditionally set up at the end of November and remains on display throughout the festive period, until Epiphany, coinciding with the "Imola a Natale" programme. In the latest edition, the blessing ceremony and the switching on of the lights took place on 29 November at 6 pm in piazza Matteotti. Being outdoors in a public square, the nativity scene has no opening hours or admission charge: it can be viewed freely at any time, by day and in the evening, when it is lit up along with the rest of the Christmas decorations. For the exact dates and times of the next edition, it is advisable to check the Comune di Imola website or the culturaimola.it portal before visiting.
