In depth
What it is
Sant'Agata Feltria is a small medieval village in the Rimini Apennines, in the Montefeltro area, crossed by the Cammino di San Francesco which connects Rimini to the sanctuary of La Verna. Every winter, during the Christmas period, the village becomes a stop on a nativity scene route promoted by the Associazione I Cammini di Francesco in Emilia Romagna: a trail that winds through four historic sites in the centre, the Rocca Fregoso, the Museo delle Arti Rurali in the convent of San Girolamo, the convent of Santa Maria Maddalena and Palazzo Fregoso. It is not a single nativity scene to look at, but a widespread visit throughout the village, where each building houses its own Nativity.
What makes it special
The distinctive feature of this route lies in the variety of settings: a fifteenth-century fortress, a museum of rural life housed in an old convent, a cloistered monastery and a noble palace become, one after another, the backdrop for nativity scenes that differ greatly in period and materials. In the Rocca Fregoso there is a nineteenth-century Neapolitan nativity scene alongside works by Italian and Spanish master nativity scene makers. At the Museo delle Arti Rurali, works by the masters Luciano and Marco Fantini and a nineteenth-century Lombard plaster nativity scene are on display. At Palazzo Fregoso there is a mechanical nativity scene with antique statues attributed to the master Gualtiero Grilli. At the convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, the Sorelle Povere di Santa Chiara set up a representation that recalls the Nativity of Greccio, the first living nativity scene in history.
Origins and history
The sources consulted do not report a precise date for the founding of the route nor the name of who first conceived it. It is an initiative of the Associazione I Cammini di Francesco in Emilia Romagna, created to promote the section of the Cammino di San Francesco that climbs from Rimini to the sanctuary of La Verna through the Valmarecchia, incorporating the nativity scenes of the Montefeltro into a broader narrative that touches convents, churches and fortresses in several municipalities. In Sant'Agata Feltria the exhibition intertwines with an already established local tradition, that of the Christmas market Il Paese del Natale organised by the Pro Loco, and in recent editions the initiatives have also recalled the eight hundredth anniversary of the first nativity scene set up by Saint Francis in Greccio in 1223.
What to see
The route is visited on foot in the historic centre. At the Rocca Fregoso, in piazza Lucrezia Vitelli, you can admire dioramas dedicated to the stories of Jesus and Mary and a nineteenth-century Neapolitan nativity scene. At the Museo delle Arti Rurali, in the convent of San Girolamo, you will find the handcrafted nativity scenes by the masters Fantini and a Lombard plaster nativity scene. At the convent of Santa Maria Maddalena, home of the Sorelle Povere di Santa Chiara, a representation of the Nativity of Greccio is set up. At Palazzo Fregoso, in piazza Garibaldi, there is a mechanical nativity scene with antique statues. During the days of the Il Paese del Natale event, the nativity scene route is accompanied by a market with local products, music, workshops for children and performances in the village streets.
When and how to visit
The route is usually set up from early December until 6 January, coinciding with the Christmas period of the Cammino di San Francesco. In the last documented edition, the venues were normally open from Wednesday to Saturday, with hours from 10 to 12 and 3 to 6 pm, whilst during the days of Il Paese del Natale the hours were extended. Entry to the nativity scenes is free or by free donation at all venues. As days and times may vary from year to year, for the next edition it is advisable to check the updated programme with the tourist office and the Pro Loco di Sant'Agata Feltria before visiting.
