Buongiorno Italy readers!

Today there are some forty active workshops of presepi and pastori around the via San Gregorio Armeno neighborhood in the historic center of Naples. Our Made-in-Italy expert Laura shares this prime guide for buying nativities. 

The three monumental doors of Florence’s Baptistery, bronze and gilded masterpieces of late Medieval/early Renaissance art, have been reunited after almost 30 years apart. 

If you’ve ever been to Italy over Christmas, you’ll have no doubt seen il presepe. This is the traditional Italian nativity scene and can be seen in churches all over Italy, as well as in many shops and family homes. 

Not just prosciutto and parmigiana! A historic winery of Parma is revived to carry on the overlooked tradition of prized winemaking in the Parma hills.

The beauty of Italy’s monuments and landscapes captured in ten shots, the winners of this year’s edition of Wiki Loves Monuments, an annual photo competition in which citizens are encouraged to share in pictures Italy’s cultural and artistic heritage. 

Give the gift of Murano glass, straight from the shores of its birth in the Veneto region of #Italy. This beautiful necklace is made with 8 lamp-worked Murano glass beads with 100% nickel-free parts and a certificate of authenticity.

Panforte is a typical Christmas cake from Siena, whose origins go back in time. A parchment attests to the existence of Panforte since at least 1205, but, in a simpler version, it originated even earlier, around the year 1000. Part of our #duallanguage series. 

Even though Parmigiana is popular across the Italian south, there’s something particularly magical about the Cucina Salentina version of the dish that goes beyond the sun-kissed, flavor-packed locally grown eggplants. It is one family-friendly one-tray meal perfect for both vegetarians and carnivores alike.

Founded in 1937 by Ruggero Bauli as a small artisanal bakeshop, the Bauli company today occupies roughly five million square feet, produces over one thousand products, and is Italy’s leading maker of Italy’s most popular holiday cake: panettone. 

A beautiful stand-alone villa with pool for sale is located in a very pleasant setting. Nestled in the hills in a residential area, the villa is on 3 levels, with a surrounding park and fantastic view of Lake Trasimeno and the green Umbrian hills. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend from Georgette, your editor, and the Italy Magazine team.