"presepi" From Bagni Di Lucca

[Gala Placidia]

Bagni di Lucca is well known for the beautiful Christmas "presepi" which are manufactured in the area. This link, Fontanini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, may give you an idea of this beautiful art; however, there are other creators of magnificent "presepi" and religious statues. One of them is Arte Barsanti (see Arte Barsanti - Dal 1900...) and the late Queen Mother had one of their masterpieces. The owner proudly shows a letter from the late Queen Mother acknowledging his work.
These "presepi" are collector items, very much appreciated overseas, particularly in the USA.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Gala Placidia

Bagni di Lucca is well known for the beautiful Christmas "presepi" which are manufactured in the area. This link, Fontanini - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, may give you an idea of this beautiful art; however, there are other creators of magnificent "presepi" and religious statues. One of them is Arte Barsanti (see Arte Barsanti - Dal 1900...) and the late Queen Mother had one of their masterpieces. The owner proudly shows a letter from the late Queen Mother acknowledging his work.
These "presepi" are collector items, very much appreciated overseas, particularly in the USA.

Check out this link

MOSTRA PRESEPI

Absolutely beautiful to see. There are about 12 separate scenes all to scale narrating parts of the Nativity. It is truly amazing the amount of work that has gone into each window scene and the pictures don't really do the artwork justice. It's free to go in but they welcome donations.

Gazzano is in Emilia Romagna about 8k from Febbio and near Villa Minozzo.

Lorraine

[Gala Placidia]

Here you have some more information on the "presepi" and the different customs associated with:
Nativity Scenes
As you can see, there are many countries that follow this tradition. In Spain and subsequently Latin America, the custom of having these Nativity sets originate from the fact that Charles III of Bourbon became King of Spain. He brought the first "presepe" from Naples and they soon became very fashionable and everyone had to have one.
In Bagni di Lucca, they have been making "presepi" for centuries. Actually, there is a local joke about Christopher Columbus landing in America and finding someone from Bagni di Lucca already selling "presepi" to the American Indians....

[Lorraine]

Photos from Gazzano

[Gabbi]

Here's a link to a slideshow. If you want to enlarge the photographs to see more detail, click on the image.

Presepista's latest photos slideshow on Flickr

[Gala Placidia]

I think that you are going to love this exquisite neapolitan "presepe". Although it is originally from Naples, it is also the one brought by Charles III to the Royal Palace when he became King of Spain, back in the XVIII Century (the one I already mentioned and which started this custom in Spain). It is a real masterpiece and it is on public display at the Palace in Madrid between the 13th of December and the 8th of January.

El Belén del Palacio

[Lorraine]

These links remind me of when we went to the Palace? in Casino. There was a large glass dome with a beautiful 18th century nativity scene. I can remember the angels and thinking how exquisite they were and how much time it must have taken to make them. A few years later we were in Canada and went to Frankenmuth in Michigan where it's Christmas all year round. On the high street there was an Italian shop so we went in and they had a nativity scene where you paid to go in. We duly waited our turn and lo and behold there in a big room was the most beatiful nativity which spread round the room. It was made from chicken wire and paper mache etc. and the models were so life like.

One thing caught my eye - the angels. They were identical to the ones in Casino. I said to the woman that we had seen angels that looked exactly the same in Italy and her response was, ' They are the same ones, they're on load from Italy'. Who'd have believed it eh?

Lorraine

[Aretina]

Hi

When we were down in Puglia earlier this year we stumbled across the most fantastic Presepi (Nativity Scenes) in the ceramcs museum of Grottiglie. This museum is tucked away in the city walls and was deserted.
Sito Ufficiale della Provincia di Taranto - Grottaglie

Every year they hold an open competition and the results are breathtaking. Modern, traditional, every kind of interpretation you can think of.

Took loads of pics. but I think they are too big, even when reduced to email size, I'll try.

Aretina