In depth
What it is
The Presepe della Marineria is an artistic nativity scene set up in Cesenatico, on the Porto Canale redesigned by Leonardo da Vinci, in the floating section of the Museo della Marineria. Over fifty life-size statues populate the historic boats moored along both banks of the canal, interweaving the Nativity with the daily life of Romagna fishermen. It is one of the most unusual nativity scenes in Italy because it is not located in a church or a square, but literally on the water, aboard bragozzi and other vessels that were part of the local fishing fleet. The initiative is promoted by the Municipality of Cesenatico together with the Museo della Marineria.
What makes it special
What makes it unique is first and foremost the setting: the figures are not in a cave, but on about ten period boats from the museum's floating section, moored where the fishing fleet once docked. The statues, over fifty of them, are made life-size with a particular artisan technique: the faces, hands and feet are carved in Swiss pine wood, while the clothes are made of canvas hardened with hot wax spread over shaped wire mesh structures, with the same colours once used to dye the sails. The result is a nativity scene that seems made of fabric and sea together. In the evening the entire scene is illuminated, creating a scenic effect that can be admired while walking along both banks of the canal.
Origins and history
The nativity scene was born in 1986 from an idea by Guerrino Gardini, developed into a project by Tinin Mantegazza and created by artists Maurizio Bertoni and Mino Savadori. The first statues were the Holy Family, the Three Wise Men and San Giacomo, patron saint of Cesenatico. Since then the nativity scene has never stood still: each year it has been enriched with new characters linked to the world of fishing and the life of the seafaring village, such as fishermen, musicians and puppeteers, reaching today over fifty figures distributed on the historic boats of the port.
What to see
Walking along both banks of the port canal you encounter the period boats transformed into small stages: on one is the Nativity with the Holy Family, on others the Three Wise Men, San Giacomo, and then scenes of daily life from Romagna seafaring, among nets, sails and faithfully reproduced fishing equipment. The life-size statues, with their draped clothes and faces carved in wood, are visible from both sides of the canal, by day in natural light and in the evening illuminated, when the atmosphere becomes more evocative and almost theatrical.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is set up every year during the Christmas period, generally from late November or early December until Epiphany. In the latest edition the boats were open to visitors from 30 November 2025 to 11 January 2026, always visible and illuminated in the evening. There are no opening hours as such: the boats remain moored along the canal and can be seen by walking freely along both banks, by day and in the evening. Admission is free, with no ticket required. For the dates of the current edition it is advisable to check the Museo della Marineria website or the Municipality of Cesenatico channels.
