In depth
What it is
The nativity scene in the grotto of Monte dei Preti is a Christmas display set up in Bertinoro, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy in the province of Forlì-Cesena, inside an ancient cave carved into the rock along a panoramic path reached from via del Soccorso. It is not a nativity scene in a square or church, but a small route that takes visitors inside the earth, into a cool and silent environment where an artistic work dedicated to the Nativity is kept.
What makes it special
What makes this Nativity unique is first of all the location: a cave that was once a neviera, that is, a storage facility for preserving ice, carved beneath the ancient city walls and ideally connected to the old seminary that stood above it, from which the path Monte dei Preti takes its name. Inside is displayed the work Ascolta Israele by the artist from Cesena Franca Rossi, made with ceramic tiles of different sizes, partly in stoneware and partly glazed, donated to the Museo Interreligioso by the engineer Gianfranco Traverso. This is therefore not a nativity scene with traditional statues, but a contemporary work of art that tells the story of the birth of Jesus with a material language. The contrast between the rocky, damp and silent setting and the delicacy of the ceramic creates an intimate atmosphere, different from that of nativity scenes set up in squares or churches.
Origins and history
The cave had remained forgotten for decades. It was brought back to light and made accessible by the civil protection association Il Molino, led by president Gilberto Zanetti, who with a group of volunteers cleaned up the path and the cavity, rediscovering its history: in past centuries it had served as a passage, as an ice house and as a storage facility, and in wartime also as a shelter. For some years now, at Christmas time, the volunteers have set up Franca Rossi's work here, transforming a forgotten place of memory into a stop on the Bertinoro Christmas trail open at weekends. Over the years the initiative has attracted a growing audience, with thousands of visitors during the holidays, arriving even from other Italian regions.
What to see
The route runs along the Monte dei Preti path, through vegetation and views over the Romagna countryside, to the entrance of the cave carved into the rock. Inside, in the semi-darkness of the cavity, is the ceramic work Ascolta Israele, which represents the Nativity with a contemporary language made of textured surfaces and interplay of glaze and stoneware. The walls of the cave preserve the signs of its past as an ice house and shelter, giving visitors also a small fragment of local history, as well as the sacred scene.
When and how to visit
The nativity scene in the cave is a seasonal event linked to the Christmas period: it is usually set up from early December until Epiphany, with a preview at the end of November. In the last edition the route opened on 6 December 2025, with a preview on 23 November 2025, until 6 January 2026; access was possible on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10am to 12pm and from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. For the dates and times of the current edition it is always advisable to check with the organising association or with the tourist office in Bertinoro before visiting. Admission is free. To reach the cave, take the Monte dei Preti path from the access point on via del Soccorso; comfortable clothing is recommended, as it is an outdoor route, partly on natural terrain.
