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In the wake of San Javier's great Belén (the depiction of the Christmas story) on the Plaza de España, more and more smaller versions have popped up in the town over the years. This harmless Belén virus has even resulted in an annual Bethlehem route, where participants can follow the diverse interpretations of the birth of the infant Jesus by San Javier.
During the route, nine locations are now visited where large, small, playful and traditional versions can be viewed. In some cases the makers take it very loosely with their interpretation of the Christmas story. For several years there has even been a Belén of Playmobil figures.
The reason why the population of the town on the Mar Menor is so captivated by the Belén phenomenon has undoubtedly a lot to do with the enormous success of the main program: the 520 m² exhibition of miniature figures in the Plaza de España. Or, as the city council proudly reports: the largest open-air Belén in Europe. Since its first modest edition in 1967, it has become a crowd puller. Today there are more than 1,200 figurines on display, all of which play their part in a variety of scenes with many moving parts.
San Javier has opted for a fairly traditional Christmas story. The birth of Jesus, the stable in Bethlehem, and the wise men from the East are all on display. Still, the makers usually afford some historical freedoms, such as the pyramids of Giza, tigers, elephants, zebras and a group of greyhounds that hunt hares. Every year the makers also integrate images of traditional agricultural methods from the Murcia region in the whole.
The Belén Marinero in Santiago de la Ribera is also very popular. This has a strong maritime character with scenes of fishermen and seafarers. At the Explanada Barnuevo, the local celebrations of the Virgin Carmen and San Blas are also playfully integrated into their interpretation of the Christmas story.
In addition to the fairly recent addition of the Playmobil Belén in the museum of San Javier, the following places are visited during the Bethlehem route: the Belen de la Marquesa in the town hall, a Belén in the San Francisco Javier church on the Plaza de España, the shopping centers Dos Mares in San Javier and Galeries El Flamengo in La Manga, the center for retirees in El Mirador and the Civico Center in La Grajuela. All these locations are within the municipal boundaries of San Javier.
Check the tourist office for the exact program, times and information about guided tours.
