In depth
What it is
In Rimini, Christmas is told through a route connecting several nativity scenes set up in the historic centre and along the seafront: the traditional nativity scene under the Arco d'Augusto, the Nativity on the historic boats of the dock, the semi-mechanical nativity scene in the church on via Santa Chiara, the exhibition of handcrafted nativity scenes at San Bernardino and the Presepi dal mondo in the Tempio Malatestiano. Not a single nativity scene, therefore, but an itinerary to discover on foot among faith, art and popular traditions.
What makes it special
What makes the route special is the variety of places and techniques. Under the Roman arch of Augusto, among the oldest in Italy, a nearly life-size Nativity comes to life every year, created by young people from the social-occupational centres of the Associazione Sergio Zavatta. In the dock, the scene is set up on the historic boats of the Vele al Terzo fleet, as an open-air set in tribute to sailors lost at sea. On via Santa Chiara, visitors can see a semi-mechanical nativity scene from the twentieth century with figures dressed in fine fabrics and small movements. At San Bernardino, the nativity scenes are carved by the cloistered Poor Clare nuns in olive wood, cherry wood and plaster; in the Tempio Malatestiano, a Renaissance masterpiece by Leon Battista Alberti, the nativity scene becomes an intercultural narrative with nativity scenes from migrant communities.
Origins and history
The origins of the route are the sum of distinct traditions. The nativity scene at the Arco d'Augusto is the most deeply rooted: it has been set up for over thirty years by the Associazione Sergio Zavatta onlus, a project that is also social in nature, involving young people from its day centres in making costumes and scenery. The semi-mechanical nativity scene on via Santa Chiara dates back to the twentieth century, linked to the life of the church and the former convent of the Poor Clares, but the date and author of the first creation are not documented in available sources. The exhibition at San Bernardino stems from the craft activity of the Poor Clare nuns of the adjoining monastery, who during the weekend of the Immaculate Conception sell the nativity scenes made in the preceding months. The nativity scene at the dock recalls Rimini's seafaring tradition, while the initiative at the Tempio Malatestiano tells the story of Christmas through the eyes of the city's migrant communities.
What to see
Under the Arco d'Augusto there is a Nativity with nearly life-size figures, set up outdoors under the arches of the Roman monument and illuminated in the evening hours. In the dock, the eye falls on the historic wooden boats of the Vele al Terzo fleet, transformed for the holidays into a maritime scenery with the characters of the Nativity arranged on the piers. In the church on via Santa Chiara, visitors can observe the statuettes dressed in fine fabrics of the semi-mechanical nativity scene, animated by small movements. At San Bernardino, dozens of hand-carved miniature nativity scenes are displayed, alongside the church's traditional nativity scene. In the Tempio Malatestiano, visitors can admire, together with the Renaissance works of the temple, the nativity scenes created according to the iconographies of migrant communities.
When and how to visit
The usual period runs from the first days of December to Epiphany on 6 January, with the exception of San Bernardino, where the nativity scene remains visible longer, until Candlemas on 2 February. In the last edition, the Arco d'Augusto was inaugurated on 9 December with the bishop's blessing and remained on display until 6 January; the dock was inaugurated on 20 December with an underwater torchlight procession; the Tempio Malatestiano hosted the Presepi dal mondo from 8 December to 6 January, with the cathedral generally open from 8.30 to 12 and from 15.30 to 18. The nativity scene on via Santa Chiara can be visited during the church's opening hours, in the afternoon on weekdays and with extended hours on holidays. Admission to all stops is free. The dates for the next edition are not yet known: it is advisable to check them on the channels of the Comune di Rimini and the tourist office before visiting.
