In depth
What it is
The Presepe Meccanico di San Francesco is a large animated nativity scene set up every Christmas in the Chiesa di San Francesco, in piazza San Francesco in Faenza. It is considered the oldest mechanical nativity scene in the city and is today one of the best-known stops on the Strada dei Presepi di Romagna. Spread over approximately 60 square metres are three scenes: the Nativity, ancient trades and the Adoration of the Magi, populated by over 150 statues set in motion by electric mechanisms, accompanied by lights, sounds and special effects.
What makes it special
What strikes visitors most is the scale of the display, approximately 60 square metres divided into three distinct settings, with more than 150 animated statues, an unusual number for a parish nativity scene. The figures do not simply move: the ancient trades scene recreates in miniature the work of times past, whilst plays of light, projections and effects such as fireflies in flight and water features add depth to the scenography. In recent editions new settings have been added, such as a pond with stalactites, a sign of a display that continues to be enriched year after year rather than remaining fixed to a single historical version.
Origins and history
The nativity scene was conceived in 1982 by padre Giovanni Lambertini, a Franciscan friar with extensive experience behind him: since 1954 he had in fact curated a large animated nativity scene in Ravenna, before moving to Faenza. Here, from 1982 until his death in 1997, he created and perfected the display at San Francesco, progressing from rudimentary mechanisms with wheels, bicycle parts and washing machine motors to small electric motors inserted directly into the body of the statues. Many of the figures, some up to a metre tall, were the work of sculptor Enrico Dalmonte. After the death of padre Lambertini, care of the nativity scene passed to Roberto Gorini, who for approximately 26 years has overseen its restoration and installation together with the association Everdream, keeping alive and updating the friar's legacy.
What to see
The route winds through three main scenes. The first is the Nativity proper, with the grotto and the characters from the Gospel narrative. The second recreates ancient trades, a small rural world in miniature where the animated statues reproduce everyday working gestures from times past. The third represents the Adoration of the Magi. Linking the scenes are special effects, lights that simulate the passing of the day, ambient sounds, projections and details such as luminous fireflies and water features, designed to engage adults and children alike.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is traditionally inaugurated on 24 December, with an opening ceremony accompanied by wine and chestnuts, and remains open for visits every day until 6 January. In the most recent edition two extraordinary openings were also scheduled for the Sundays following Epiphany. Admission is free. As this is a parish display, detailed opening times and any extra openings for the current year are best verified close to the date on the nativity scene's Facebook page or through the event channels of the Comune di Faenza, as these may vary from edition to edition.
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