In depth
What it is
Presepi dal mondo is the exhibition that every Christmas brings together a selection from the private collection of Augusto Poverini, nearly 500 nativity scenes from every continent, displayed in the basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista in Ravenna, on viale Farini. It is not a single nativity scene to admire in a few minutes, but a small temporary museum set up in the church spaces, where each nativity tells the story of the culture and materials of the country it comes from.
What makes it special
The value of the exhibition lies in its variety. The pieces come from very distant places, from Japan to Peru, from the United States to the deeply Catholic Philippines, and each nativity scene reflects local materials, customs and symbols: among the most curious pieces, a shepherd with a polar bear cub from Tierra del Fuego. What makes the experience even more evocative is the setting: the nativity scenes are displayed inside a basilica of late antique origin, with the remains of its thirteenth-century floor mosaics, so the visit combines historic sacred art and nativity craftsmanship from around the world.
Origins and history
The collection is the work of Augusto Poverini, a non-practising businessman from Ravenna who was fascinated by the Catholic culture of the nativity scene, and who dedicated the last thirty-five years of his life to searching for and cataloguing nativity scenes from all over the world. He bought pieces during business trips, later organised dedicated expeditions by contacting local ecclesiastical authorities, and had friends and acquaintances help him by bringing nativity scenes from their travels: a few days before his death he travelled to Bologna to buy new ones. After his death, the family donated the entire collection to the Arcidiocesi di Ravenna-Cervia, which has overseen its enhancement through the Opera di Religione della Diocesi di Ravenna, making it available to visit every year during the Christmas period as part of the city's tourist and cultural offering.
What you see
Inside the basilica, along the aisles, dozens of nativity scenes of very different sizes, techniques and materials are arranged: terracotta, wood, paper, fabric, humble or precious materials according to their craft traditions of origin. The visit allows you to compare an oriental style with a South American or popular European one in just a few steps, while around you the historic features of the building remain visible, including fragments of medieval floor mosaic that survived renovations and the bombing of the last war.
When and how to visit
The exhibition opens every year during the Christmas period; in the latest edition it was open from 8 December 2025 to 25 January 2026, every day except Monday, from 10.30 to 16.30 (during religious services visits to the nativity scene are not permitted). Admission is free. For information you can contact the Opera di Religione della Diocesi di Ravenna or the office indicated on the tourist channels of the Comune di Ravenna.
