In depth
What it is
The Presepe di Borgo La Scola is an evocative Christmas trail set up among the narrow streets of La Scola, a small medieval village in the hamlet of Vimignano, in the municipality of Grizzana Morandi, in the Bolognese Apennines. It is not a nativity scene enclosed in a single space, but an open-air itinerary: wooden statues accompany visitors along the stone alleyways of the village, up to the Nativity scene, placed at the foot of a large centuries-old cypress tree. The initiative is organised by Associazione Sculca, which has been working for years on the enhancement and protection of the village.
What makes it special
The distinctive feature of this nativity scene lies in its setting: the statues, entirely made of wood, are not gathered in a single diorama but scattered along the streets, small squares and corners of the village, transforming the entire settlement into a staged nativity trail. The final setting, at the foot of a cypress tree over 700 years old growing in the courtyard of an ancient dwelling, is a unique natural element, difficult to find elsewhere: the tree, monumental in size and age, becomes the living backdrop to the Nativity. The wooden figures are also illuminated in the evening hours, so that the trail remains visible even at night. The works are created by sculptors Alfredo Marchi and Renzo Bressan, who over the years have progressively enriched the display with new subjects.
Origins and history
The sources consulted do not report a precisely documented date of origin; the tradition appears to date back, according to local chronicles, to the 1980s, on the initiative of the village community. Since then the event has been renewed every Christmas, with the addition of new statues and scenes created by sculptors Alfredo Marchi and Renzo Bressan. Over the years the initiative has also been accompanied by nativity scene exhibitions set up indoors in the village itself. Supporting the event is Associazione Sculca, which bears the historic name of the place: the term Sculcula already appears in documents from 1235 and indicated the seat of a small military surveillance detachment, whilst Sculca, of Latin origin, indicates an observation post on high ground. The village itself, of medieval layout dating from the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, preserves traces of the work of the Maestri Comacini and local stonemasons.
What to see
The trail winds among the stone houses, the upper and lower small squares and the tower house of the village, where the wooden silhouettes and statues are arranged along the walls and corners of the narrow streets. The culminating moment is the Nativity, set up at the foot of the imposing centuries-old cypress tree growing in the courtyard of a private dwelling in the village, which has now become a symbol of the place. In some editions an exhibition featuring the nativity scenes of Alfredo Marchi has also been set up inside the village hall. In the evening the entire display is illuminated, creating an intimate atmosphere in the narrow streets of the small mountain settlement.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene traditionally opens on 8 December and remains visible until Epiphany, throughout the Christmas holiday period. In the edition indicated from 8 December 2024 to 6 January 2025 admission was free, both during the day and in the evening, when the statues are illuminated; more recent sources indicate an edition running from 6 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, again with free admission. The dates of the next edition are not yet known with certainty and should be verified year by year through official sources. No specific opening times are indicated, as it is an open-air trail through the village streets. For updates, the website of Associazione Sculca and the tourist pages of the Appennino bolognese and Bologna Welcome can be consulted.
