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The Guevara Palace in the centre of Lorca threw open its doors on Sunday December 10 to present its most impressive Nativity Scene, or Belén, ever, complete with more than 300 figurines and taking inspiration from some of the most recognisable monuments and scenes from across Spain.

 

This year, the overarching theme is water, and the larger than life Nativity scene is overflowing with model bridges, aqueducts, hot springs, fountains and rivers.

 

“Christmas traditionally comes to Lorca when the municipal nativity scene is inaugurated, which this year celebrates its ‘silver anniversary’,” mayor Fulgencio Gil Jódar explained, adding that the Belén will once again be part of the traditional ‘Nativity Scene Route’, which incorporates the dedicated Bethlehem museum in the parish church of San Roque and San Sebastián. This is the oldest Christian house of worship in Lorca, and it will welcome visitors every day between December 11 and January 6 who will be treated to a stunning display by the master nativity scene makers in the city.

 

Around 30,000 people visit the Palace Nativity each Christmas, and the president of the Nativity Scene Association, Miguel Ángel Hernández, wants visitors to remember the importance of water in the arid southeast of Spain.

 

“This year the nativity scene includes different recreations of monuments related to the liquid element. The Roman aqueduct of Almuñécar, considered the best preserved in Andalucia. The Roman bridge over the Pedroches stream, in Córdoba. Roman baths inspired by the missing ones of Caracalla or those of Bath, all of them, accompanied by rivers, fountains and ponds,” de described.

 

The municipal Nativity Scene will remain open to visitors throughout Christmas.

 

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca