Naples' Christmas market: Where tradition meets celebrity charm
If anyone has been considering a winter trip to southern Italy, now might be the perfect moment. On the Neapolitan street of San Gregorio Armeno, renowned for its nativity scene workshops, the Christmas market was inaugurated on Friday, 22nd November. It is a tradition here to display figures of personalities from the world of politics, showbiz, and sports in the nativity scenes.
Not everyone is aware that Naples is famous not only for its excellent pizza and coffee but also for its Christmas nativity scenes, which are the most significant symbol of the holidays for the city's residents.
On the famous street San Gregorio Armeno in Naples, the popular Christmas market officially began on Friday. It is a tradition in this area to present figures of famous personalities from politics, sports, and showbiz in the nativity scenes. This year, particular attention is attracted by the likeness of tennis player Jannik Sinner.
San Gregorio Armeno, located in the historic centre of Naples, draws thousands of tourists from around the globe each year. The street is celebrated for its nativity scene workshops, where both traditional Neapolitan nativity scenes and figures representing politicians, athletes, and stars of music, cinema, and television are crafted.
According to local custom, Neapolitans enhance their home nativity scenes every year with new figures of current stars. In previous years, before the US presidential elections, the terracotta figurines of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were the most sought after.
Christmas market in Naples. The hit is the tennis player's figurine
Recently, following the successes of the 23-year-old Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, including his impressive performance in the ATP tournament in Turin, his figurine holding a trophy has become the season's hit. Upon hearing this, Sinner joked in a television interview: "I couldn’t wait [for this]".
San Gregorio Armeno is not just a centre for Christmas shopping but also an important tourist attraction in Naples. Tourists have the opportunity to admire the craftsmanship of local artisans and purchase unique souvenirs. The festive atmosphere of the street attracts visitors throughout the season.
