Gennaro Di Virgilio shows statues of french president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni in his workshop in via San Gregorio Armeno in Naples; Italy on december 2009. The firm is known for its high-quality scenes; handcrafted from fine materials . Representations of topical characters ;celebrities; politicians...often show up in the crib; adding a humorous touch. The narrow street is the center of the world's nativity market; with several hundred workshops ; stores and stands selling full nativity scenes and individual statues made of wood; plaster and terra cotta.Naples has an especially rich tradition; one rooted in artistic excellence. The nativity has been an integral part of the Christmas culture in the southern Italian city for centuries. PHOTO : Eric Vandeville/akg-images