In depth
What it is
The Presepe multimediale di Stella Maris is an artistic projection that brings to life the facade of the church of Stella Maris every Christmas, in the heart of Milano Marittima, a seaside resort of Cervia. This is not a nativity scene with statues or living figures, but a story told through images, lights, colours and music that comes alive directly on the church wall, in the square, visible free of charge to all passers-by on winter evenings.
What makes it special
What distinguishes this nativity scene is the technique: there are no figurines, grottos or physical settings, but a multisensory projection framed on the church facade, as if it were a large luminous altarpiece. The images rework the paintings of Giotto and his contemporaries, recomposed with a skilful interplay of colours, lights and music that tells the Nativity story in an emotional and engaging way. The setting is itself unusual for a nativity scene: not a dark church or a grotto, but the square of a tourist resort on the Romagna coast, with the sea just a few steps away.
Origins and history
The idea of the multimedia artistic nativity scene originated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, which conceived it to mark the centenary of Milano Marittima, the seaside resort founded on 14 August 1912. The scenographic project is carried out in collaboration with the Frati Francescani of the Parrocchia di Stella Maris, the Pro Loco di Milano Marittima and the Municipality of Cervia. Since then, the projection on the church facade has become a regular fixture of the Christmas festivities in the resort, renewed every year; no substantial changes to the format have been documented since the first edition linked to the centenary.
What you can see
The church facade becomes a screen on which the key scenes of the Nativity unfold: from the Annunciation to the birth of Jesus, through to the adoration of the Magi who arrived in Bethlehem guided by the star. The images, framed like a painting, move accompanied by music and an interplay of lights and colours that recalls the pictorial style of Giotto and his era. The show is renewed every evening at dusk, giving the church square a suspended and contemplative atmosphere.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene is visible every day, from sunset until late evening, during the period that usually runs from early December to Epiphany; in the most recent edition, the projection was active from 6 December to 6 January, approximately from 4:45 pm to 11:00 pm. Entry is free of charge, with no need to book: simply reach the square of the church of Stella Maris, in III traversa in Milano Marittima, in the municipality of Cervia, during the evening hours. The dates for the current edition should always be checked on the Municipality of Cervia's channels.
The photos belong to their respective owners or to whoever holds the rights, and are published under the licence shown below each image.
