Name: Cesenatico and the Nativity scene of the Maritime Museum
Start: 2024-12-01T01:00:00.000+01:00
End: 2025-01-12T23:00:00.000+01:00
Location: Cesenatico

Overview

The nativity scene of Cesenatico is truly unique worldwide.

Set up on ten traditional boats of the Floating Section of the Maritime Museum, typically decorated with "eyes" at the prow, it is located in the oldest stretch of the Canal Port redesigned by Leonardo Da Vinci.

The lights of the Nativity scene of the Maritime Museum and of the Christmas tree of Cesenatico will come to life on Sunday, 1 December 2024.

The Nativity scene, commissioned by the Town Council and displayed until 12 January 2025, was first conceived in 1986 with statues of the Holy Family and the Three Wise Men, as well as Saint Francis, patron saint of Italy, and Saint James, patron saint of Cesenatico.

Over the years, the scene has been expanded to include other figures and "glimpses" of the local seafaring life: a puppeteer with his little theatre, fishermen, a Piadina maker, an accordion player, angels and dolphins that emerge from the water of Leonardo’s canal.

In total, the Nativity scene now features over fifty statues carved in Swiss pine wood. The clothing is in canvas and the voluminous draperies layered with hot-brushed wax. The striking result is made even more evocative by the lights surrounding the boats.

The clothing is in canvas and the voluminous draperies (modelled on an intricate metal net) are layered with hot-brushed wax. The colours are those once used to dye the sails and the wax to soften the rigging. The striking result is made even more evocative by the lights surrounding the boats.

The figures are conceived as elements of a representation, to be seen from the shores of Leonardo’s Canal Port as from theatre stalls. They are also illuminated, because in the Nativity scene light brings the figures to life and helps to develop the story. And so, precisely at dusk, the Maritime Museum’ Nativity lights up, like curtains opening onto a theatre scene.

Furthermore, every weekend a Christmas Market is organised, along with several events featuring jugglers, acrobats, musical performances, art exhibitions and workshops.