San Gregorio Armeno

The street of the nativity scenes, one of the most beautiful in the center of Naples

San Gregorio Armeno is not only the street of the nativity scenes, it is also the heart of Naples and its traditions, one of the most characteristic. It was once a Roman street where you could find the Temple of the Goddess Ceres, the fertility deity. The worshipers used to carry small terracotta statues in its honor and this is how the first craft shops were established. But the tradition of handmade nativity figurines only became popular around the eighteenth century.

It is always Christmas in this street because of its shops, open all year round, that sell the statuettes of Nativity characters to be added to the nativity together with the figurines of politicians, actors and well-known personalities.

In addition to the artisans’ work, you can visit the nearby Monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, with its beautiful cloister, with a marble fountain in the center featuring Baroque-style decorations and an ancient well. Inside you can see the coffered ceiling created by the painter Teodoro d'Errico and frescoes by Luca Giordano, such as “The Glory of San Gregorio”.