In depth
What it is
The presepe of Cassanigo is a nativity display that comes to life every year in the church of the small village of Cassanigo, a hamlet of Faenza located between Faenza and Cotignola. It is part of the La Strada dei Presepi di Romagna circuit, which brings together various nativity scenes across the Faenza area, and over time it has earned a reputation as a must-visit destination for those who, during the festive season, enjoy travelling the country roads in search of small village treasures.
What makes it special
What sets the presepe of Cassanigo apart is that it is never the same two years running. It is created by the young volunteers of the village together with the local Anspi club, who rethink the display from scratch each season, mixing different techniques: ranging from artistic and modern nativity scenes to animated ones, through to more traditional and mechanical solutions. Contributing continuity and historical value to the scene are some antique statues owned by the church, carefully restored in recent years, which blend with the scenery renewed each time by the young people. The result is a handcrafted and communal nativity scene, built by those who live in the village, rather than a work signed by a single artist.
Origins and history
The exact origins of the presepe of Cassanigo are not precisely documented in available sources, but the tradition of setting it up in the village is described as being rooted for over two centuries. In more recent years the creation has passed into the hands of the young people of the parish and the Anspi club, who have made it a communal event by changing the theme each edition: among the titles remembered is Ci sarà sempre un Natale. In one past edition the volunteers also tried setting up the nativity scene outdoors, but the experience was not convincing and they returned to creating it indoors, in the church and in a room of the parish club. On the occasion of the Jubilee the nativity scene proposed a dedicated scenography, with a reconstruction of piazza San Pietro and a symbolic Holy Door.
What you see
The common thread remains the traditional one, the journey of the Holy Family towards Bethlehem, but scenery and materials change from year to year according to the idea chosen by the volunteers. Alongside scenes built from scratch, with painted backdrops, wooden structures and lighting effects, the church's antique statues coexist, of artisan craftsmanship and recently restored. In more recent editions mechanical and animated elements have also appeared, bringing movement to small portions of the scene, whilst other parts remain faithful to the classic display with the grotto, shepherds and Magi.
When and how to visit
The presepe of Cassanigo is traditionally inaugurated on the night of 24 December, immediately after mass, and remains open for viewing throughout the Christmas period, usually until Epiphany with some additional openings in January. In the most recent edition the opening hours were from 14.30 to 18.30, on days from 25 December to 6 January and then on 10, 11 and 18 January. Admission is free. As it is a display inside a village church open only during certain time slots, it is advisable to check in advance the dates and times of the current edition on the Facebook page Presepe di Cassanigo or through the channels of La Strada dei Presepi di Romagna.
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