Mums do travel

Travel with and without teens

  • Home
  • Destination
    • UK
      • London
      • Kent
      • Northern Ireland
      • Wales
      • Elsewhere
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Croatia
      • France
      • Gibraltar
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Italy
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Russia
      • Spain
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • USA
      • Canada
      • Carribean
      • Costa Rica
    • Africa
      • South Africa
      • Tunisia
    • Asia
      • Thailand
      • Bali
      • Singapore
    • Australia
  • Inspiration
    • Things to do in…
    • Things to do in London…
    • Where to stay
    • Language learning
    • Family travel interviews
    • The journey
    • Recipes
  • Published in
  • About
  • Contact
  • Travel shop
Home / Destination / Europe / Italy / Christmas cribs in Naples

Christmas cribs in Naples

December 22, 2013 by Gretta Schifano 10 Comments

Presepe workshop, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Naples. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Presepe workshop, Via San Gregorio Armeno, Naples. Copyright Gretta Schifano

There’s an ancient street in the historic centre of Naples where Christmas preparations never stop. Via San Gregorio Armeno, also known as ‘Christmas alley’, is famous for the sculpted nativity scenes (i presepi) which its artisan workshops produce and which are popular across Italy and beyond.

I’m there on a sunny day one April on a fascinating Vespa tour of the Mediterranean city with archaeologist Emiliano Tufano. We walk along the narrow, cobblestoned street into Ferigno, one of the open workshops where craftsmen are making i pastori. Pastori literally means ‘shepherds’ but is the generic term used for all of the crib scene figures.

I watch an artist sculpting a sheep carried by a shepherd. He’s using a dummy of a shepherd to ensure the sheep will fit across a shepherd’s shoulder. He tells me that it takes two hours to make a figure like a sheep and about twenty hours to make a larger figure such as a shepherd or king. Like all of the nativity scene figures here the sheep will be painted to look as realistic as possible. A Ferigno nativity scene costs from around 500 euros.

My guide Emiliano explains that the nativity scenes are not limited to traditional figures but can also include famous celebrities as well as il corno (the horn), the symbol of Naples and a good luck charm against the evil eye:

Il corno, Naples. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Il corno, Naples. Copyright Gretta Schifano

One of the earliest examples of Christmas crib scenes dates from the thirteenth century and the tradition is thought to be much older although nobody’s sure exactly when it started. The Certosa di San Martino museum in Naples has a section devoted to the nativity scene. I didn’t make it there but would love to go back to Naples to see it.

Family travel lowdown: Vesparound offers guided Vespa tours of Naples and the surrounding area. I travelled to Naples with my daughter as guests of The Adventure Company on their 8-day ‘Around the Bay of Naples’ family trip for the purposes of a newspaper travel feature.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Categories: Italy, Seasonal
Tags: Christmas, Naples, Vespa, Vespa tour, Via San Gregorio Armeno

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

Facebook - Twitter - Google+

Subscribe to posts by email?

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Comments

  1. Kara says

    December 24, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    The christmas horns are so beautiful – I would love to experience christmas in another country!
    Kara recently posted…Country Kids from CoombemillMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 24, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      The horns aren’t a specific Christmas thing, they’re a general good luck symbol. They do look pretty!

      Reply
  2. Fritha says

    December 24, 2013 at 8:48 am

    amazing, I love seeing all the homemade items when you visit countries, must have been fascinating to watch them being made
    Fritha recently posted…Cranberry Mulled WineMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 24, 2013 at 10:18 pm

      It was really interesting going there and amazing to see a whole street dedicated to crib scenes.

      Reply
  3. anna says

    December 23, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    interesting! I had never thought about where the nativity scenes would be made
    anna recently posted…European Holiday Destinations for Families with ChildrenMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 24, 2013 at 10:20 pm

      All in this street I think!

      Reply
  4. Mammasaurus says

    December 23, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    I so want to get away one Christmas – and discover some local customs from other far flung countries – so romantic!
    Mammasaurus recently posted…A walk with Ozzy – Blasting away the cobwebs pre-CrimboMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 24, 2013 at 10:26 pm

      But Christmas in England is great too!

      Reply
  5. Mrs. Chasing the Donkey says

    December 23, 2013 at 11:23 am

    I just LOVED this post, with so many made in China items, it’s great to see real works of art. You may also like to link up with us this week for the #SundayTraveler linky which has the FESTIVE theme. If so you can find the details here: http://www.chasingthedonkey.com/sunday-traveler/
    Mrs. Chasing the Donkey recently posted…Tips to survive Christmas abroad #SundayTravelerMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta Schifano says

      December 23, 2013 at 11:26 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed it. The Linky sounds great – I’ll pop over and have a look, thank you.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Christmas cribs in Naples says:
    December 22, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    […] Read the rest of the post at it’s original source by clicking here. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Search site

Follow me!

Email: gretta at mumsdotravel dot com
Follow me on FacebookFollow me on Google+Follow me on TwitterFollow me on InstagramFollow me on YouTubeFollow me on PinterestFollow me on Bloglovin

You'd like posts by email?

Booking.com

Most popular posts:

  • Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
    Where to find Mary Poppins film locations in London
  • How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
    How to pack for an 8 kg luggage allowance
  • Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
    Thailand with teenagers: a two-week summer itinerary
  • What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
    What to do when your teenager doesn't want to go on your family holiday
  • What to wear for a DofE expedition
    What to wear for a DofE expedition
  • Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
    Itinerary for a three-night Berlin sightseeing trip with a teenager
  • Visiting London film locations: Paddington
    Visiting London film locations: Paddington
  • Family-friendly places to stay in Normandy
    Family-friendly places to stay in Normandy
  • How to shop in the souks of Tunis medina, Tunisia
    How to shop in the souks of Tunis medina, Tunisia
  • 8 great family holidays for football fans
    8 great family holidays for football fans

Recent Posts

  • How to apply for Italian citizenship: everything we’ve done so far
  • How to explore London’s top attractions from home
  • Amsterdam virtual museum & gallery tours
  • Introducing Armchair Travels
  • How to explore Florence, Italy, from home

About

  • About
  • Published in
  • Contact

Disclosure

This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

Copyright © Mums do travel 2019
Header by Suzanne Barton
Website by
Callia Web

Sign up for my free newsletter:
Subscribe to the Mums do travel mailing list... it's FREE!
You'll receive family travel news, offers and competitions. Once you sign up you can download my tips for saving money on family travel.
Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Sign up for my free newsletter: