The Christmas cribs are as essential in the holidays as the feasts, the ice rinks, the nougat or the visits of the Three Kings. Pure tradition. Before imported panettone and Santa Claus costumes,nativity scenes remind us of biblical scenes and connect us with the most traditional Christmas? Or not necessarily.
It is well known that Barcelona’s central nativity scene, the one in Plaça Sant Jaume, has been innovating and modernizing for years, but for every modern nativity scene there are several of the classics scattered throughout Barcelona and Catalonia. Therefore, we bring you a list of some of the best nativity scenes around us, so you can live Christmas as it should.
The most famous: the nativity scene in Plaça Sant Jaume
Barcelona has already presented its new Christmas nativity scene in Plaça Sant Jaume… and it’s not a nativity scene. After many years of controversy, the Barcelona City Council has finally removed the nativity scene from Plaça Sant Jaume to replace it with a giant luminous star that wants to put an end to the controversies about the nativity scene.
However, the City Council will install a traditional nativity scene (the one that usually in the Museu Frederic Marés) was inside the building of the consistory, in the Pati de Carruatges, inspired by the sea and the America’s Cup sailing, to calm the desire of the most purists of the crib to see one like the ones of a lifetime.
📍 Plaça Sant Jaume
Pesebre de la Catedral, a traditional nativity scene in the center of Barcelona.
In the heart of Barcelona’s Christmas season, the Cathedral’s nativity scene is one of the city’s essential visits. Located in the cloister garden, this traditional nativity scene opens its doors from November 26 to January 8, offering a space for reflection and artistic beauty in a unique setting. With detailed figures and a careful setting, it is an obligatory stop for lovers of Christmas tradition and art.
Visiting hours are designed so that everyone can enjoy it: from Monday to Saturday and on the eve, you can visit it from 10:00 to 13:30 h and from 16:30 to 19:15 h, while on Sundays and holidays the morning hours end a little earlier, at 13:00 h. Access is through the door of Santa Eulalia, located in Bisbe Street, inviting visitors to discover this Christmas jewel in the heart of Gothic Barcelona.
The most traditional nativity scene in the city
As we said, the City Council will install a traditional nativity scene (the one usually in the Museu Frederic Marés), but it will be inside the building of the consistory, in the Pati de Carruatges, and will be inspired by the sea and the America’s Cup. We tell you all the details in this article.
Neapolitan Nativity Scene at the Diputació de Barcelona
The Neapolitan crib is a reflection of the more traditionalist side of the cribs, and in Barcelona you can enjoy a version of them in the Diputació, which keeps in its building a crib of more than 80 pieces that is a real gem. We tell you all about it in our article.
The biggest nativity scene in Barcelona, the Sants neighborhood’s nativity scene.
The Christmas spirit is already flooding the streets of Barcelona and they know it well in the neighborhood of Sants, which this year will host in its streets the largest crib in the city with thirty stalls of crafts, food and Christmas gifts that will occupy the pedestrian section of Diputació street that goes from Creu Coberta street to Tarragona street.
The fair has been organized by the Creu Coberta Merchants Association, which has decided to have very special guests. The Three Wise Men and Santa Claus will have their own tents for the little ones to deliver their letters. The fair can be visited the weekend of December 16 and 17, between 21 and 24 and, finally, between 2 and 5 January.
📍Diputació street between Creu Coberta and Tarragona streets.
The Living Crib of Món Sant Benet, the manger inside a medieval monastery
The only crib in Catalonia that takes place inside a medieval monastery allows you to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and live, through its scenes, a very special Christmas. It is a unique show where in addition to the uniqueness of the space and the beauty of the scenes represented by the actors with costumes and elements of the time, will surprise by its large-format audiovisual effects.
The different corners of the monastery are transformed to host the recreation of the traditional scenes of a living nativity scene, as well as other less typical ones such as the representation of different ancient trades. It can be enjoyed on December 23, 26, 30 and January 1 in several daily sessions.
📍 Monestir de Sant Benet. Camí de Sant Benet, s/n, 08272 Sant Fruitós de Bages,
Fira del Pesebre d’Olot (Olot Nativity Fair).
The Olot Manger Fair is held from December 8 to 10 in the center of the city. Its products are related to the figure of the crib quality, as well as gift items and Christmas-themed decorations.
To complement the fair spaces, a series of family activities have been programmed during the three days : every day from 10 am to 2 pm and from 3 pm to 8 pm you can participate in a family gymkhana to discover the most Christmas-themed spaces of the Fira. In addition, there will be craft workshops and family games.
📍 Streets in the center of Olot