At Christmas-time around Spain many towns & cities build models of Belen or Bethlehem. I saw one in the main square in Torrievieja some years ago. The model showed depictions of the villagers going about their daily lives in their homes and workplaces – with the central theme of the Nativity so, of course, there were shepherds and wise men and the stable with the holy family. Smoke issuing from chimneys added to the realistic model.
I heard about a museum in Alicante, dedicated to this traditional and finally managed to visit with my three youngest grandchildren (aged 16, 11 and 9 years) in August 2015.
The museum cases are full of models of people depicted in the displays as well as small, cases showing models of houses and other places relevant to the story of the Nativity and Christ’s childhood.
It’s small, so not tiring, as many museums can be and is located in one of the many small streets off the main drag. And it’s free!! Definitely worth a visit.
“Museo de Belenes, Alicante”:https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.belenante.com/museo/museo.htm&prev=search
