Emilia Romagna Castles

For the upcoming Christmas holidays, Meldola will be transformed into an itinerant exhibition of “Presepi d'Incanto” (Enchanted Nativity Scenes), conceived and curated by director and nativity scene artist Davide Santandrea, which can be visited from December 8, 2025, to February 1, 2026.

The “Presepi d'Incanto” exhibition will offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the magic of Christmas thanks to numerous displays, each with its own story and unique atmosphere, located in the most evocative locations in Meldola and its hamlets.

The route will start from the Ancient Franciscan Convent adjacent to the Church of San Francesco in Meldola (Via Giordano Bruno 25), which will host the monumental animated nativity scene, composed of over two hundred statues, characterized by their impressive size and meticulous craftsmanship.

Over two hundred statues, created by Davide Santandrea himself, stand out for their impressive scale and meticulous craftsmanship.

The exhibition is also enriched by the historical element of the animated nativity scene by Don Galileo Macori, master of the nativity scene maker Father Giovanni Lambertini of Faenza. Created during World War II to honor the wounded, the Macori nativity scene is historically recognized as the first animated nativity scene made in Romagna and Italy.

OPENING HOURS AND OPENING DAYS

From December 8 to December 24, open only on holidays and days before holidays

from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

From December 24 to January 6, open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

From January 7 to February 1, open only on holidays and days before holidays from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Free admission.

The exhibition will continue in Ricò, in the church of San Giovanni Evangelista, with a popular-style setting which, while maintaining Santandrea's unmistakable style, offers a more intimate and cozy atmosphere.

The tour will then conclude in Castelnuovo with a traveling installation between the Guest House and the Cemetery Chapel, inviting the public to discover evocative glimpses of the Meldola area through a widespread and original Christmas experience.