In depth
What it is
"Presepi dal mondo, collezione Augusto Poverini" is an exhibition of nativity scenes housed in the parish church of San Rocco, at via Castel San Pietro 26 in Ravenna. It presents to the public a selection from the large collection of nativity scenes gathered from around the world by collector Augusto Poverini, now part of the heritage of the Arcidiocesi di Ravenna Cervia. During the Christmas period the display is always visible and admission is free, making the visit a simple opportunity for those strolling through the San Rocco district or in the city for the holidays.
What makes it special
What makes this exhibition particularly distinctive is first and foremost the international origin of the pieces on display: the Poverini collection comprises almost five hundred nativity scenes from very different countries, from Japan to Peru, from the United States to the Philippines, each made with materials and techniques typical of its own culture, from terracotta to wood, from paper to fabrics. At San Rocco a selection of these pieces is placed in display cases inside the church. In the most recent edition, moreover, the initiative intertwines with the "Arte in vetrina" project: other nativity scenes from the same collection are hosted in shop windows throughout the district, transforming the neighbourhood streets into a small scattered trail among nativity scenes from all over the world.
Origins and history
The collection bears the name of Augusto Poverini, a non-practising merchant and entrepreneur who, for the last thirty-five years of his life, devoted himself with growing passion to searching for and cataloguing nativity scenes, initially purchased during his business travels and then sought out specifically, also thanks to acquaintances who brought him pieces found during their travels. After his death the family donated the entire collection to the Arcidiocesi di Ravenna Cervia, which has since preserved it and presented it to the public every Christmas, on rotation, in various churches in the city, including the Duomo, the basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista and, more recently, the parish of San Rocco. Sources do not document precisely the private reasons that drove Poverini to this quest, described as having become, towards the end of his life, a veritable obsession.
What to see
Visitors to the church of San Rocco will find nativity scenes of the most diverse forms, far removed from the traditional iconography we are accustomed to: figures carved in wood, modelled in terracotta or ceramic, sewn in fabric, cut out in paper or assembled from humble materials and everyday objects, according to the style and sensibility of the country of origin. Each scene tells the Nativity filtered through local settings, clothing and faces, offering an unusual perspective on the same story told by vastly different cultures. Continuing the walk through the district, other examples from the collection appear in shop windows along the streets adjacent to the church.
When and how to visit
The exhibition normally follows the Ravenna Christmas calendar, opening in early December and remaining visible until the first days of January. In the latest edition the indicated period was from 8 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, with the display always visible, without fixed opening hours tied to supervision or ticketing. Admission is free. For information about the collection and exhibition venues in Ravenna you can write to info@ravennamosaici.it or telephone +39 0544 541688. As it is housed in an active place of worship, it is advisable to check the actual opening hours of the church before visiting, especially during liturgical celebrations.
