Jesus was born in Naples in 1700

The Nativity scene (that we Italians call presepe) is an incredibly ancient Italian tradition.
According to the legend, Saint Francis of Assisi designed it in the village of Greccio, when he was back to Italy from his journey to Sacred Land.
Believe it or not, what is certain is that in the Middle Age this practice diffuse very quickly, and during the Christmas period every church in Italy built its own crib which were object of prayer of the faithful. Naples wasn’t an exception of course.
It was during the 18th century, however, that Naples became the city of cribs, thanks to a simple and ingenious idea: Jesus wasn’t born in Bethelem 2000 years ago, but in Naples in the 1700’s.
The Nativity scene was inserted into representations of Neapolitan popular life. Next to the hut there are butchers and bakers, small alleys and folks; and above everything, dozens of colorful twinning angels.
From that moment, not only churches, but every house had its own crib, making many artisans open their shop.
Furthermore, Neapolitan presepe reached an unbelievable artistic quality, because of the fact that from about a century Naples welcomed the most modern artists in Europe.
In addition to the religious meaning that the crib delivered and still delivers, it became a way for everybody to effort a work of big artistic value, and keep it at home.

Neapolitan presepe today

If you walk through the historic center of Naples, you will find many shops which still today make tiny statues for Nativity scenes.
However you have to be careful!
Because if it is true that some of these artisans are true artists, other ones do nothing but sell and sell low quality pieces. Or, even worse, they make horrible caricatures of people from politics, from television, and from sports.

Traditional but modern

Ulderico Pinfildi is different from anyone else, and you will notice it as soon as you will come into his shop.
You will feel like in a small art gallery, surrounded by his magnificent pieces of art that he very often exhibits in museums all over the world. Certainly not by chance.
If you will have the luck of visiting his shop with esplora Napoli, besides, you will find out how his creations come to life and, listening to him, you will find out also the study and the thinking he devotes to his cribs, in order to do justice to such an ancient art that still has something to say.