Living nativity scene of Meldola

In depth

What it is

The Presepe vivente di Meldola is a costumed re-enactment of the birth of Jesus that brings to life, every year during the Christmas period, the historic centre of this town in the Forlì area of Romagna, at the foot of the Rocca. The event takes place on two separate occasions: one on 26 December, dedicated to the Annunciation and the Nativity, and one on 6 January, with the arrival of the Three Kings. The heart of the displays is the Arena Hesperia, flanked by the streets of the Rione Rocca. The event has been carried forward for decades by the parish community together with numerous local associations.

What makes it special

What makes this nativity scene particularly special is first and foremost its setting: the Arena Hesperia is a neoclassical quadriporticus built in 1861, originally a loggia for the annual silk cocoon market, later dedicated to the memory of silent film actress Hesperia (Olga Mambelli), who lived in Meldola as a child. The streets of the Rione Rocca are transformed for the occasion into a small period village, with taverns and ancient crafts reconstructed and brought to life by the costumed participants. Among the most recognisable scenic elements is the Porta Saxi, introduced around 2019 and recreated in some of the subsequent editions. On 6 January the procession of the Three Kings is accompanied by shepherds and Roman centurions to the sound of bagpipes, while the traditional Canto della Pasquella is performed with the Pasqualotti di Ricò. The event also involves organisations such as the Red Cross, Avis, Caritas and the local Islamic community, which offers Moroccan tea to visitors.

Origins and history

The sources consulted do not indicate precisely who created the Presepe vivente di Meldola nor in which exact year it began: it is not a history documented in detail, but a tradition that has been handed down within the parish community. An indirect indication comes from the number of editions: the one held between December 2025 and January 2026 is the thirty-first, a sign of an event established for more than three decades. Over the years the display has been enriched with new scenic elements, such as the Porta Saxi, and the event has been included in the broader promotional project Meldola Città dei Presepi, which in recent Christmases has complemented the living nativity scene with large mechanical animated nativity scenes set up in other locations around the town, expanding the Christmas offering of the area without replacing the original living representation.

What to see

On the afternoon of 26 December the public witnesses the scenes of the Annunciation and the Nativity, with costumed participants bringing to life workshops, taverns and ancient crafts along the streets of the Rione Rocca and in the Arena Hesperia. On 6 January the event concludes with the Adoration of the Magi: a procession with the Three Kings, shepherds and Roman soldiers passes through the village to the sound of bagpipes, and the day ends with the Canto della Pasquella performed by the Pasqualotti di Ricò. Along the route volunteers offer mulled wine and hot tea, in a festive atmosphere shared by the whole Meldola community.

When and how to visit

The Presepe vivente di Meldola is usually held in the period between St Stephen's Day and Epiphany, with the two main events on 26 December and 6 January. In the most recent edition, the thirty-first, the times were from 3pm to 5.30pm on both dates: 26 December for the Annunciation and the Nativity, 6 January for the arrival of the Three Kings. Admission has always been free. The dates and times of the next edition are not yet certain at the time of writing: it is advisable to check them, as Christmas approaches, on the channels of the Comune di Meldola or the Pro Loco di Meldola.