What a really fun concept. We purchased our tickets online but the scanner and code did not work. I…read moreshowed my email to the man at the register and he provided us with two tickets. No hassle. Two tickets will get you 3 special flavors and two obligatory flavors- Nutella (Nutella seems pretty big here?) and a milk chocolate. When you vote you get a 6th free sample. We then tested all 8 flavors. I was so fortunate to start at number two. Please see my photos for details. The chef(?), what do you call a gelato creator?, was so friendly. She explained the contest to me and then described her gelato. When I first read the description online o thought hers was going to be too much. Lots of ingredients, hazelnut, pistachio, chocolate, orange. But wow the Orange really pops with the gelato. Hands down my favorite. My number two slot goes to the parmesan and honey creation-- number 5. Who knew Parmesan cheese could taste so good with honey? Very unique these flavors really balance each other. Very nice and passionate gelato creator. Number three pick goes to number three gelato Fig and lemon. Well done. Unique. The lemon really stands out. There is a cooking demonstration where they will teach you how to make gelato and then provide you with samples. In Italian however. You can also watch them make gelato in a huge truck. The gelato fair is in Naples for 4 days then travels on. I highly suggest going if they are in your city. I'm glad we took the time out of our vacation to try this!

In Italy there's a popular custom of setting up Christmas nativity dioramas for the holidays and…read morebeyond, and this area over centuries became the place to go. This street is famous for its nativity scene decorations and figurines, many in the form of miniatures. I could feel my jaw dropping walking by, admiring the deft handiwork of skilled artisans, many who've honed their traditional craft for generations. On a weekend in April I visited with curiosity, since in the States, it's not common to see enclaves of such specialized holiday producers showcasing and selling their goods year round. The closest I can think of are certain Christmas "villages" or really cluster of Christmas retailers in places like Bronner's in Frakenmuth, Michigan. Via San Gregorio Armeno is a far cry from the glitzy decked out lights and fake snow, more like its low key vintage-styled European uncle. The street is only about a block and a half or so, with probably two dozen stores. Among these, mixed in are many peripherally related souvenir shops, selling imported souvenirs aimed at tourists looking for cheap trinkets. However you can generally discern the ones with locally produced items, often with makers working on pieces inside the store. Even as I walked along and admired the nativity figurines, some no taller than a couple inches, the minutiae of smallest details captured in the fold of a garment, or a twinkle of an eye, I wondered how long these shops could sustain with competition from foreign made copycats, tightening purse strings, and lessening interest from younger generations to go into this type of cottage industry. While this question isn't an easy one to answer, I hope there will be those that continue to appreciate these stories and support their work.

I LOVE it here. Its called Christmas Alley by the Americans. Its blocks and blocks of stores and…read morevendors selling all sorts of wonderful things. We first went in the fall and it was lively, but nothing like visiting in the middle of December! Italians come out in droves to pick out new additions to nativity scenes and trees. There are some touristy shops too but thats part of the fun. Lots of pride and workmanship go into these items and it is a beautiful thing to see. The tiniest details are so interesting to see. You can also grab snacks from many vendors along the tight winding streets. This is a must do thing if you come to Napoli!