COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are proving costly to shops and businesses worldwide - and in Naples, they may be fatal to artisan workshops in the street of San Gregorio Armeno.
Located in the historic city of Naples, in Italy, this narrow street is the most famous centre in the world for producing small statues embellishing Nativity scenes, the so-called ‘presepe’, which is present in many houses at Christmas time.
Artisans have been working and keeping this centuries-old tradition alive in this street for generations, but since the first lockdown in March 2020, they are struggling to survive. Recently, after weeks of forced closure, they finally re-opened, but that is not enough.
Naples presepe makers launch St Valentine s initiative
Craftsmen will make pieces devoted to all forms of love
28 Gennaio 2021
NAPLES, JAN 28 - The world-famous presepe
Christmas crib makers of Naples are launching a new initiative
focusing for the first time on St Valentine Day with the aim of
bringing people back to their storied street, San Gregorio
Armeno.
The association of nativity scene ateliers of San Gregorio
Armeno will present the initiative on Monday.
It has been dubbed San Gregorio In Love .
It is an absolute novelty, said association president Gabriele
Casillo. For the first time every craftsman will make pieces dedicated
Pandemic-control measures have heavily dented peak sales season on Via San Gregorio Armeno, the Naples street celebrated for its Nativity scenes. REUTERS/Ciro De Luca For One Prized Italian Tradition, Covid-19 Deals Heartbreaking Blow
Artisans clustered along a Naples street have been crafting Nativity scenes for more than a century. But coronavirus restrictions and a dearth of tourists are threatening their survival.
By Dec. 12, 2020 5:35 am ET
NAPLES For generations, the Christmas season has brought throngs of visitors to Via San Gregorio Armeno, a historic street in the heart of Naples where artisans have made the city’s famous handcrafted Nativity scenes since the 1800s.