In depth
What it is
The Presepe di Ferro is the Christmas installation that every year brings life to Piazza Dora Markus, also known as Piazza Marinara, in the heart of Marina di Ravenna, the seaside and port resort at the gates of Ravenna. It is a Nativity scene entirely made of sheet metal, a work of metal carpentry that tells the story of the birth of Jesus with an unusual language for a traditional nativity scene: not wood, terracotta or resin, but worked and shaped iron, designed to remain outdoors, visible day and night, in a place frequented by residents and tourists.
What makes it special
What distinguishes this nativity scene is first of all the technique: the figures are not traditional statues but silhouettes and volumes in sheet metal, cut and assembled as is done with naval and port structures, a direct tribute to the craft of its creators. The dimensions are another strong point: the installation features seven figures, with the tallest reaching three metres, a monumental scale rare for a town square nativity scene. At night the work is illuminated, which accentuates the sharp profiles and the almost graphic design of the metal silhouettes against the darkness. The setting is also particular: not a church or a churchyard, but a square on the Adriatic coast, a few steps from the sea and the port, which links the nativity scene to the maritime and port identity of the place.
Origins and history
The nativity scene was created on the initiative of the Compagnia Portuale di Ravenna (C.S.R.C. Portuali), as a tribute to Christmas linked to the world of port work. For several years the work was installed floating on the waters of the Candiano canal, in the dock of the port of Ravenna, where it was seen by those passing along the canal. Since 2019 the installation has moved to Marina di Ravenna, in Piazza Dora Markus, thanks to the collaboration between the Compagnia Portuale, the Autorità di Sistema Portuale and the local traders gathered in the MarinaE20 association, with the support of the local Pro Loco. The material creation of the figures is the work of Enrico Bartolozzi, at the Mariport shipyard. Over the years the presentation of the work, often in the presence of civil and religious authorities, has become a regular fixture in the Christmas calendar of Marina di Ravenna. The sources consulted do not report a precise date for the first creation of the work.
What to see
Awaiting visitors in the square is a complete Nativity scene in seven sheet metal figures, including Mary, Joseph and the Child, shaped and worked giving the metal forms and folds that render garments, faces and gestures with a decisive, almost sculptural line. The tallest figure reaches three metres, making the group visible even from a distance, whilst in the evening the lighting transforms the ensemble into a sort of luminous silhouette that stands out in the square. Around it, the installation coexists with the Christmas lights and other decorations of Marina di Ravenna, in an informal seaside square context rather than a museum nativity scene.
When and how to visit
The Presepe di Ferro is installed every year during the Christmas period, generally from early December to mid-January; in the most recent documented edition it was visible from 6 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. Being located outdoors in a public square, it is always visible, day and night thanks to lighting, with no opening or closing times and with free admission. For the current year's edition it is advisable to check the updated dates with the Comune di Ravenna or local information pages, as the exact period and any inauguration date may vary from year to year.
