In depth
What it is
Natale nel Cuore di Persiceto is a nativity scene exhibition held every year in San Giovanni in Persiceto, at the Chiesa della Beata Vergine della Cintura, right in the historic centre, at piazza Garibaldi 5. Organised by Pro Loco San Giovanni in Persiceto, it brings together nativity scenes from private collections belonging to local enthusiasts, offering visitors an intimate journey through nativities that vary in style, materials and size, inside one of the town's most significant religious buildings.
What makes it special
What sets this exhibition apart is the variety of the collections on display, all privately owned and made available by families and enthusiasts from the Persiceto area, a sign of widespread devotion to the nativity tradition. Among the pieces on show is a nativity scene made entirely in crochet, an unusual technique that transforms figurines and setting into meticulous textile work. Alongside the nativities, the exhibition also includes some baby bands collected by volunteers from the Centro Missionario, a detail that links the display to a concrete gesture of solidarity. The setting is equally distinctive: everything takes place inside the Chiesa della Beata Vergine della Cintura, an eighteenth-century building designed by Alfonso Torreggiani on the site of an earlier church from 1574.
Origins and history
The sources consulted do not document precisely the year the exhibition began nor who first conceived it. It is known that the initiative is organised by Pro Loco San Giovanni in Persiceto as part of the broader programme Natale a Persiceto e Decima, the town's Christmas events calendar. As no specific developments of the exhibition over the years are documented, it can only be noted that the event is repeated regularly during the Christmas period, establishing itself as one of the fixed festive appointments, alongside markets, concerts and other initiatives promoted by Pro Loco and the parish of San Giovanni Battista.
What to see
Inside the church visitors can admire a selection of nativity scenes from private collections, varying in style, materials and construction technique, from more traditional settings with figurines and landscapes recreated with moss, cork and lights, to the nativity scene made entirely in crochet, where each figure of the nativity is a small textile creation. Alongside the nativities are also displayed baby bands and garments collected by volunteers from the local Centro Missionario. The route unfolds in the spaces of the Chiesa della Beata Vergine della Cintura, which with its eighteenth-century architecture offers an intimate setting, suitable for a peaceful visit away from the bustle of the Christmas market that enlivens the centre of Persiceto.
When and how to visit
The exhibition traditionally opens on 8 December and closes on 6 January, during the Christmas period, at the Chiesa della Beata Vergine della Cintura in piazza Garibaldi 5 in San Giovanni in Persiceto. In the last documented edition the opening times were Friday from 4pm to 7pm, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 12pm and from 4pm to 7pm; for the current year's edition it is advisable to check updated times on the channels of Pro Loco San Giovanni in Persiceto or the town council before visiting. Admission is free. The church is located in the heart of the historic centre, a short walk from the market and the other events in the Natale a Persiceto e Decima programme.
