In depth
What it is
The presepe of San Martino di Reda is the nativity display presented every year in the parish church of San Martino, in the hamlet of Reda, in the municipal territory of Faenza, in the province of Ravenna. It is part of the Strada dei Presepi di Romagna, an itinerary linking several handcrafted nativity scenes in the Faenza area and neighbouring municipalities, designed to be visited during the Christmas holidays together with the other displays along the route.
What makes it special
What distinguishes the presepe of Reda from other displays in the area is the choice to rebuild the scenery from scratch every year: it is not a permanent nativity scene, but a semi-mechanical work entirely handcrafted that the creators dismantle and remake for each edition, with an always different subject. The display occupies an old confessional in the church, transformed into a small scenic box with numerous figurines animated by mechanisms built by hand by the curators themselves, rear projections that recreate landscapes and animals, effects such as wind, and small exhibits designed for children. Behind the project is a small group of parish volunteers, including Pierlivio Ragazzini, who each year choose a new setting, often linked to current events. The presepe is also one of six displays in the Faenza area included in the Strada dei Presepi di Romagna, a route comprising nine displays in total.
Origins and history
The presepe, known as 'Il Natale della tradizione', was created on the initiative of some parishioners of Reda and has been renewed every year for over a decade: in the Christmas 2024 edition, the curators reported having reached their thirteenth scenography, a sign of an already established tradition. Over the years the display has changed theme several times: classic Nativity settings, but also scenographies linked to current affairs, such as in 2024 an Arab Palestinian-style presepe designed to illustrate social inequalities through the contrast between the tents of the rich and the camps of the poor. The sources consulted do not report precisely the exact date of birth of the initiative nor the name of its first creator.
What to see
Inside the church, in the space created from the old confessional, visitors find a nativity scene completely new compared to the previous year, populated by moving figurines built by hand by the curators. In addition to the Nativity, the display offers every year small special effects, such as rear projections of landscapes and animals and wind effects, together with an attraction designed especially for the little ones, capable of entertaining them for a few minutes. The subject changes with each edition, so those who return to see the presepe in subsequent years always find a different scenography from the one seen previously.
When and how to visit
The presepe opens to the public during the Christmas period, generally between the end of December and the first days of January, in combination with the rest of the Strada dei Presepi di Romagna. In the 2025/2026 edition, opening is announced from 23 December to 7 January, with hours on public holidays from 3pm to 6.30pm and on weekdays from 11.30am to 12pm and from 4.30pm to 6.30pm; on 2 January visits are possible only in the afternoon. The sources consulted do not indicate an admission price. For updated information and to confirm opening hours, which may vary from one edition to another, it is advisable to contact the parish, contact person Ragazzini, telephone +39 338 9605541, before visiting.
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