The tender custom of putting up the nativity scene when Christmas approaches took root in Spain during the 19th century, one hundred years after Maria Amalia of Saxony, wife of Charles III, commissioned renowned image makers (among them José Esteve Bonet) to create a Neapolitan nativity scene in her palace.
Families all over the country still keep their figurines of the Magi, Herod and other characters related to the birth of Jesus. Sometimes not for religious reasons, but to maintain a tradition that is enjoyed almost as much as a board game (a little house here, a shepherd boy there…).
As a tribute to the centuries-old tradition and taking advantage of the start of the Christmas holidays, Madrid has installed nativity scenes throughout the city. The Museum of History of Madrid, the Retiro, the Plaza de Felipe II and even clothing stores have one. Of course, one of the most beautiful is in the Palacio de Cibeles, created by José Luis Mayo Lebrija: a sculptor from Toledo who has become an eminent figure in the art of nativity scenes.
The Cibeles nativity scene stands out for its historical rigor and detail. It covers a route that shows the Annunciation to the Virgin, the search for an inn, the Nativity, the Annunciation to the shepherds, the Ride of the Magi and, for the first time, the flight to Egypt, in which St. Joseph, Mary and Jesus border a beautiful landscape. The work presents popular scenes in an environment that comes to life thanks to materials such as sand, cork, moss and natural vegetation. Millers, carpenters, washerwomen, blacksmiths, fishermen and other characters from the time of Jesus invite visitors to take a trip back in time.
It is worth stopping to contemplate the two hundred Hebrew-style figurines created by Mayo Lebrija. It took the sculptor three years to complete the entire nativity scene: he began designing it in 2003 and finished it in 2006, leaving for posterity a faithful representation of the Nativity and related biblical scenes.
Visiting hours
- From November 28 to January 4: Monday to Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (last visit).
- December 24 and 31 and January 5: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (last visit).
- December 25 and January 1: closed all day.