Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas 2012 in Florence

It is Christmas Eve day here in Florence, a moment when your faithful
  Beautiful Florence reporter sends greetings of the season and personally delivers them
to friends in downtown Florence.

As I am about to lock the office tight, here is a special Christmas card from our Borgo Albizi
address.  During the holiday season, the above Nativity scene graces the window of the small antique shop directly across the entrance to the Renaissance building where we are located.
Owner Vittorio Lombardini explained to me that the scene is a
18th century presepio (Nativity) from Lucca, an hour and a half from Florence.
The fact that Lucca was a flourishing center for silk production from the 12th to the 18th centuries
is reflected in the rich garb of a crowned Mary and a more humble Joseph.
Golden stars twinkle on a soft, early night sky backdrop,
the same color as Baby Jesus's silken blanket, perhaps indicating His divine origins.
Many thanks to Beautiful Florence's faithful blog photographer Bree Chun and...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Buon Natale!