It's the heart of the downtown... full of life, colours, people on the move. I really loved it! I visited it during my day in Naples wit Napolinvespa Tour. Naples is an amazing city!
Crowded dirty, overpriced preseppe.too much bottom shelf Chinese knockoffs too. The merchants need to rethink. They were not selling.
crowded, dirty, packed with people. but some amazing nativity work. we purchased from Ferrigno and had a great experience.throughout all of Naples, keep cash and credit cards safe. no purses or bulging wallets
the great street of the famous tradition in Naples of the Presepe, all hand painted by local artisans
This convent is not usually open to the public and so, when my cousin told me that many places normally closed to the public were being opened just for this month, I jumped at the opportunity.This convent is in the heart of Naples, just off via San Biagio ai Librai not far from San Domenico Maggiore. It dates back to the 8th century when some Armenian nuns fled from Byzantium with the relics of St. Gregory. Not much of the original building remains as it was extensively rebuilt in the 16th century and the interior of the church is a riot of Baroque decoration. The entry is by way of an impressive staircase to a huge wooden door. To one side is an ancient revolving hatch which was used by the women in Naples to deposit their unwanted babies. In England they're called 'foundling hatches'. I found out why so many Neapolitans rejoice in the name of 'Esposito': apparently the orphans were described as 'esposto' - exposed and, because they were so many, the name itself became commonplace. The convent itself is quite beautiful and we were shown various relics including a reliquary containing some of the Saint's blood. The magnificent cloister and fountain were, by themselves, worth the price of admission but I was rather miffed by the restrictions on filming and photography. The frescoes depicting the journey of the nuns from Byzantium to Naples painted by Luca Giordano in the late 17th century are truly amazing. There is so much to see and admire that a 90-minute tour went by in a flash. The authorities are thinking of opening these places again next year (2015) - I hope they do because it's well worth the visit.
My wife is a Christmas nut. This street/area was on her not-to-be-missed list for our recent Naples visit. A little schlocky (no surprise) but very interesting nonetheless. Came away with a moderately priced nativity scene that made my wife happy - so who can complain? Not a religious artifacts street like those near the Vatican, and not quite as touristy as a t-shirt street. Worth a visit although I would not allocate a lot of time to it as there is a lot of repetitiveness. I should have bought that Pope Francis bobble head when I saw it the first time because I didn't see it again!
Always love going for a stroll here. In particular are the christmas cribs and all the various shops. It is like taking step back in time... If you see it, stop by Gay-Odin for some delicious chocolates!
The views out of the window onto the Centro Storico compete with Caravaggio for your attention. Walk around!
This church is incredible. The organs are not to be missed. Watch out for the nuns. It is a little hard to find but worth it. The street is a fun festival of shops.
This street is always full of life, it is a great place to see real Napoliten people. And the cheapest touristic souvenir place at the center. By the way be careful about pickpocketing in this area.