Record tourism for the nativity scenes of Naples: the Pope, de Crescenzo and CR7 the best sellers

Record visitor turnout, record sales, and a strong one-way pedestrian system. The Christmas season has been a more than positive one for Via San Gregorio Armeno, the street of nativity scenes in the heart of Naples' historic center. Marco Ferrigno, master nativity scene maker and owner of the eponymous shop founded in 1836, told Adnkronos which were the three best-selling "modern" figurines of Christmas 2019: "First and foremost is Pope Francis, whose appeal remains unchanged every year, then Cristiano Ronaldo and the one dedicated to Luciano De Crescenzo." One of the most notable developments in recent years, particularly noticeable this year, is the influx of tourists from increasingly distant countries: "This year," Ferrigno says, "I even had customers from North Korea. In past years, tourism in Naples was primarily Italian, French, or Spanish; today we can say that Naples has truly become an international city." (This is also confirmed by the fact that San Gregorio Armeno continues to be very crowded even today and no longer in the days preceding Christmas, with the traditional peak of the Immaculate Conception: "It is a street that has a particular charm - continues Ferrigno - and is a must-see for anyone who comes to Naples. Tourism in the city is no longer seasonal, so the street is busy all year round". Also positive is the assessment of the one-way pedestrian system developed by the Municipality of Naples to deal with the large influx of people in a street, San Gregorio Armeno, particularly narrow like all the "hinges" of the old center of Naples: "The organization of the Municipality was truly excellent - explains Ferrigno - and with the one-way system we had a more regular flow. People did not crowd together and were able to better enjoy the beauty of the street and the shops". The only negative notes: "The street vendors, still present and who damage the image of the street by creating further traffic jams and fueling a low-quality and underground economy, and the Lights, not always on. These are small things,” Ferrigno concludes, “but they can really contribute significantly to further enhancing the appeal of the little street, which is now a driving force in the city's economy.”