In depth
What it is
The mechanical nativity scene of piazza Capitini is a Christmas display set up in a small room in the Barca district, one of Bologna's working-class neighbourhoods. It is the work of Corrado Mattei, who every year builds and operates in person a completely animated scenography, open free of charge to residents and visitors in the weeks before and after Christmas. It is not linked to a parish or a museum, but was born as a neighbourhood initiative, which over the years has become a small landmark of Bolognese Christmas.
What makes it special
This is an entirely mechanical nativity scene, in which the figures move thanks to mechanisms operated by the author, with technology intertwined with traditional mechanics. The scenography is not limited to the Nativity but recreates typical scenes and trades, with numerous figures at work in the various recreated settings. A distinctive element is the pond with live goldfish, which at the end of the exhibition are given as gifts to the children who have visited the nativity scene. Another curious detail, which has become almost a trademark, is the presence of a small tribute to Resto del Carlino, with a small van loading copies of the newspaper for distribution, a sign of the bond between the work and the daily paper that has awarded it over the years.
Origins and history
The sources consulted do not report a precise date of birth for this nativity scene nor the exact reason that prompted Corrado Mattei to create it: it is known that the display has been active for several years in the same room in piazza Capitini, in the heart of the Barca district, and that it has been refined edition after edition with new mechanical and scenographic details. Over the years the nativity scene has gained great visibility thanks to the 'Vota il tuo presepe' competition organised by Resto del Carlino: it won the edition for Christmas 2023 and confirmed itself at the top in the following edition as well, ranking among the most voted nativity scenes by Bolognese readers. In the eighth edition of the competition, the nativity scene of piazza Capitini came second, with 1,943 votes, behind the work in via Parisio.
What you can see
Entering the room you find an animated nativity scene dense with details, where beside the Nativity hut small characters move about engaged in trades and daily activities, in a landscape that recalls typically Bolognese atmospheres and views. There is the pond with real goldfish, one of the elements most loved by children, and the little scene dedicated to Resto del Carlino with the van loaded with newspapers, an ironic tribute to the local press. The whole gives the image of a small miniature village in constant movement, built by hand with great care in the mechanisms.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is set up every year during the Christmas period, traditionally from early December until Epiphany on 6 January: in the most recent edition the dates were from 8 December to 6 January. In the past, opening to the public has been on weekdays in the late afternoon, but times may vary from one edition to another and are not confirmed for the current year: it is therefore advisable to enquire locally before visiting. Admission has always been free of charge, in the spirit of a neighbourhood initiative designed for Barca residents and anyone who wishes to discover it.
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