In depth
What it is
The Presepe di via Azzurra 10 is one of Bologna's most beloved nativity scenes: a large mechanical and animated display, built in the courtyard of a private home in the Massarenti area and visible from the street. Every December it transforms a house garden into a small illuminated village, populated by moving figurines, lights, sounds and a miniature market, becoming a regular stop on Bologna's Christmas walks.
What makes it special
What makes it unique is first of all the location: not a church or a square, but the private garden of a family home, observable only from outside, through the gate or from the pavement. The figurines, numerous and partly motorised, are largely handmade by the creator himself over the course of decades, a detail that distinguishes it from nativity scenes purchased or set up by associations. Beside the Nativity a small market develops with illuminated shops, such as the florist, the fishmonger, the butcher and the tavern, and over the years scenes of everyday Bologna life have also appeared, such as a period classroom or a medical surgery. In the evening, the lighting of the comet star closes the show of lights and movement.
Origins and history
The presepe was born in December 1989 on the initiative of Michele Chimienti, a Bologna pneumologist, then working at the Bellaria hospital, who set up a nativity scene for the first time in his house garden, at via Azzurra 10. Since then, with the help of his wife Ramona, the display has grown year by year: from a simple Nativity scene it has become a mechanical presepe, enriched with dozens of figurines and settings built by hand by Dr Chimienti himself. Over time new scenes have been added, also inspired by current events, such as in 2020 a medical surgery with white coat and mask, a tribute to the year of the pandemic. Today the presepe has passed thirty years of life and, for the people of Bologna, it has become a small Christmas ritual, on a par with other city traditions such as the Santa Lucia market.
What you can see
The scene develops on the steps and in the courtyard of the house: at the centre the Holy Family, the shepherds and traditional animals, surrounded by thousands of small figures. Beside the Nativity opens a real miniature market, with illuminated shops and stalls such as the florist, the fishmonger, the butcher and the tavern, as well as scenes of everyday life reconstructed in detail. Thanks to motorisation many figurines move, while lights and sounds accompany the scene until, in the evening, the comet star lights up.
When and how to visit
The presepe is traditionally set up every year from 1 December to 6 January, with evening lighting from 17.30 until 23.00. In the most recent edition these were the confirmed times, but it is always advisable to check the updated dates before visiting, as they may vary slightly from year to year. In some editions the garden gate has also been opened on Sunday afternoons, to allow the public to observe the scenes more closely. The visit, from the street or from the gate, is free: it is not a museum nor an event organised by a public body, but the home of a Bologna family that every year opens its garden to the neighbourhood. It is located in the Massarenti area, easily reachable on foot or by public transport from other areas of Bologna.
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