Merry and blessed Christmas on behalf of the entire organization of the 11th DZF! Spend this day in the company of your loved ones, and if your journey takes you to the City, do not miss to stop by the beautiful Neapolitan nativity scene, better known as Presepi, which is placed in the park under the bridge on Ploče gate.

This is a gift from the friendly city of Sorrento to the City of Dubrovnik, and symbolizes the rich Neapolitan tradition of making Bethlehem, which dates back to the 13th century. This cultural gift further enriches the holiday atmosphere in Dubrovnik, and also highlights the long-standing cooperation between the two cities.

The nativity scene from Sorrento comes from a city with a tradition of making nativity scenes that is rooted in local Christmas customs. This tradition began with Saint Francis of Assisi, who in 1223 was the first to reconstruct the birth of Christ with live animals and actors for a public audience in the central Italian city of Greccio. Thus, the nativity scene has become a recognizable element of Neapolitan cultural heritage. These nativity scenes are today made of terracotta and papier-mâché, materials that are characteristic of the Neapolitan tradition.