Stanley visits Christmas Alley in Naples

Hi Ant and everyone. I want to update you on one of the latest adventures that Flat Stanley has had in Italy. Stanley joined us as we traveled to downtown Naples by city bus and walked to a narrow street nicknamed Christmas Alley. Christmas Alley is famous for its shops that make, display, and sell precepi. A presepe is a representation of an old village with a Nativity scene. It is not uncommon to find various figures who were not part of the original Nativity scene as part of the displays. (A pizzaiolo, a butcher, or a fish monger might be placed nearby.) The tradition of the presepe has been in Italy for centuries and is often more significant to Neopolitans than the Christmas tree.


Here you can see Stanley in a precepe display that doesn't have any other figures yet.

On our way to Christmas Alley we walked by some fresh fish vendors on the streets. Stanley and two of my sons had to stop and take a look. They were most interested in the live eels that were swimming around.

In the picture above you can see just how narrow some of the streets are in the old sections of Naples. Many people have motorcyles for transportation so they can travel these narrow streets quickly.

This is an example of a figure that one might purchase to add to a precepe. The pizzaiolo is significant because pizza was first made in Naples, Italy!

Below is Stanley posing near a traditional precepe display.

We hope your new year is off to a great start! Take care and we will check in with you again soon. Ciao!