Discover real Christmas treasure in Romagna, the heart of Italy

Follow the Christmas star to full-on undiluted authentic Christmas celebrations

Romagnolo people just love any celebration and Christmas is the big one, so in Romagna, all the fun and the magic of Christmas is taken very seriously!

Villages, towns, cities and seaside resorts enthusiastically compete with each other with the quality of their Christmas markets, Christmas lights, decorations, and Christmas music – but above all they take great pride in their nativity Scenes.

Artistic nativity scenes that involve whole towns, nativity scenes on the water or on boats, live representations with hundreds of figures, delicately made in sand or salt, small mechanical moving masterpieces, multiethnic nativities and scenes in grottoes. Everywhere in Romagna local people treasure their own evocation of the traditional Christmas story.

Deep in the mountains, in soaring Montefiore Conca, the entire centre of this medieval village will become a natural stage for the nativity scene. More than 150 figures and thirty episodes are represented along a path winding through the streets of the town and ends with the Nativity set up in the magnificent Arena at the foot of the imposing Malatesta Fortress.

In the Marecchia Hills, dramatic castellated hilltop Sant’ Agata Feltria becomes a complete Christmas village whilst delightful Pennabilli’s starry scene winds around its picturesque hilltop from its ancient cathedral.

Christmas is not just nativity scenes, of course. Christmas markets selling decorations, gifts and Christmas treats like nougat to celebrate Santa Lucia, superb Panettone (traditionally not baked until 7th December) and all manner of sweets abound.

In Forli every year a great Christmas market gets set up in the main square, and every Sunday there are extra Christmas markets.

In Cesena a massive Christmas market sets up in the historic centre while the ‘Christmas Train’ ferries visitors around and to and from the ice-skating rink.

Naturally, many scenes are inspired by the sea. In Cervia, there’s the Salt Nativity and the Salt-workers Nativity.

In Cesenatico, the historic nativity scene is set up on the ancient boats of the Maritime Museum in Leonardo da Vinci’s port.

But it is in the hills and mountains that real Christmas happens. Whole medieval castellated Romagnolo towns provide new settings creating a fascinating atmosphere. Medieval towns transform into nativity scenes, with nativities popping up everywhere, in the most evocative corners, in the streets and in the squares.

Not to be missed are the magical mechanical nativity scenes, most famous being the traditional nativity scene in the Convent of the SS. Crocefisso, in Longiano. Full of complex and fascinating mechanical movements, lights and sounds.

From this beautiful monastery, visitors can follow a town nativity walk which takes in at least 100 different nativities throughout the entire historic centre.

In museums, churches, squares, streets, gardens, public places and private homes – glorious and innovative nativity scenes are everywhere. Finally, the walk leads up the pretty cobbled streets, through the castle gate to in the chapel of the soaring castle where there is artist Lucio del Pezzo’s stunning ‘Geometric Nativity’.

Longiano’s rich program of activities also includes weekend Christmas markets  with great local food stalls, concerts and performances at the pretty La Petrella theatre, street animations and workshops for children.

And, of course, there is truly great food – Longiano’s Christmas offers the opportunity to discover wine and food typical of the area and the excellent home cooking tradition based on genuine local products.

On the tables of restaurants visitors can enjoy great local specialities, fabulous local piadina, freshly rolled pasta dishes great wines and sensational olive oils from this lovely town’s vineyards and olive groves less than a kilometer away.

A real start to Christmas.

More information: Longiano Christmas

More information: Cesenaticio Christmas

More information: Sant Agata Feltria Christmas

Valere Tjolle

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