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I Presepi di Napoli
A Neapolitan Bethlehem—Presepio Christmas Crèches in Naples
www.inaples.it
TOURS OF NAPLES:
Tours of Naples itself:
• Naples City and Pompeii Half Day Sightseeing Tour
• Naples City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
• Small Group Naples City Sightseeing Tour
Tours to Pompeii & Vesuvius:
• Mt Vesuvius and Pompeii Day Trip from Naples
• Pompeii Half-day Trip from Naples
• Naples City and Pompeii Half Day Sightseeing Tour
• Mt Vesuvius Half-Day Trip from Naples
Tours to the Amalfi Coast or Capri:
• Private tour of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello from Naples
• Capri Day Trip with Lunch from Naples
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Tours & Activities
The street of Via San Gregorio Armeno outside the church is lined with artisan shops where craftsmen labor away at the figurines used in Naples' traditional presepi, or Christmas crèches.
These dioramas of the Nativity, which probably date back to St. Francis of Assisi in the 13th century but became most wildly popular here in Naples starting in the 17th century, are still an integral and important part of the Christmas season, assembled in church chapels and on piazze throughout Italy starting in November.
Presepi seem to concentrate more on finely studied figures of peasants and townsfolk than the Holy Family itself. Especially here in Naples, the backdrop is often a suspiciously Italian-looking Bethlehem, complete with Neapolitan pizzerie, workshops, all sorts of food shops (vittles are vital to any proper Neapolitan presepio), and the inns where locals carouse, occasionally joined by contemporary political figures.
The Nativity itself is stuck off in an unobtrusive corner building, which often manages to incorporate a crumbling ruin of a Roman archway so you know it's ancient Bethlehem.
Tips
- Although Via S. Gregorio Armeno has many workshops (and even more stands during December when it becomes the center of an outdoor Christmas market), to see a true maestro of the craft at work, drop by the bottega of Giuseppe Ferrigno at #10 (tel. +39-081-552-3148).
Related pages
- The churches of Naples
- Other sights in Naples (the center, the waterfront, the hills)
- Hotels in Naples
- Restaurants in Naples
- Naples FAQ
- Naples homepage
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This material was last updated January 2010. All information was accurate at the time.
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