In depth
What it is
The Via dei Presepi di Monghidoro is a Christmas trail scattered through the woods of the Bolognese Apennines, in the municipality of Monghidoro. The path starts from the main town, crosses several hamlets and climbs up to the Croce dell'Alpe, at about 1250 metres altitude, in the heart of a beech forest. Along the way and in the village, over a hundred handcrafted nativity scenes are hidden, made by local residents and set into the surrounding nature: not a museum or a staged display, but a walking route where every bend in the path may reveal a small nativity.
What makes it special
The distinctive feature of the Via dei Presepi lies in its installation technique: the figurines are set into holes in the ground, among the roots of beech trees, in the moss or in crevices of rocks and tree trunks, using natural materials found on site. Some nativity scenes are so small and camouflaged that, without a small red comet star hanging above the nearest trunk, they would go unnoticed. The main route features over a hundred representations scattered between the village and the woods, with an additional thirty nativity scenes in the hamlet of Piamaggio, plus those displayed in shop windows and spaces provided by families in the historic centre. What makes the experience unique is also the setting: a genuine high-altitude hike, culminating at the panoramic point of the Croce dell'Alpe, from where on the clearest days the view reaches as far as the Adriatic, the Dolomites and, on the opposite side, the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Origins and history
There are no sources that precisely document a single creator or founding date for the Via dei Presepi: it is a collective project, born from the initiative of the inhabitants of Monghidoro and their connection to the land. Over the years the route has become established as a collective effort involving the Municipality, the IAT Tourist Office, local associations, shopkeepers, private individuals and the parishes, which also look after the nativity scenes set up in the churches of the main town and the hamlets. Over time the initiative has extended beyond the original path to include the hamlet of Piamaggio, increasing the overall number of displays.
What to see
Walking between the village and the woods, you encounter dozens of small Nativity scenes built with stones, tree trunks, moss and branches, often marked by a red comet star. In the historic centre of Monghidoro, other nativity scenes are visible in shop windows and in spaces made available by resident families. Climbing towards the Croce dell'Alpe, the landscape changes and the route becomes a genuine hike through a high-altitude beech forest, with a broad panorama over the Apennines from the highest point of the walk. In the hamlet of Piamaggio there is a further cluster of nativity scenes, and in the churches of the main town and hamlets the parishes set up their own Christmas displays.
When and how to visit
The Via dei Presepi is open during the Christmas period: in its most recently documented edition it was set up from 8 December to 6 January. Being an outdoor route, through the woods and village streets, it has no opening or closing times: it can be visited freely at any time of day, with free admission. To tackle the section climbing towards the Croce dell'Alpe, along a mountain path, trekking shoes and clothing suitable for the winter season are recommended. For updated information on dates and any related events, it is advisable to contact the IAT Tourist Office in Monghidoro or consult the Municipality's channels before visiting.
