There’s a stack of boxes in the middle of Plaça de Sant Jaume. Artist Paula Bosch created the scene, taking her inspiration from the attics in city houses, where boxes are kept with Christmas decorations, garlands, nativity figures, the tree, the cava glasses and special tableware… Everything we dig out when the festive season draws near again.

There are two sides to this nativity scene though. Behind the boxes there’s a city landscape of buildings with illuminated windows at night and streetlamps casting their light over the streets. Inside the windows we can see people celebrating the magic of Christmas, each in their own way.

The nativity scene in Plaça de Sant Jaume will be on display until 6 January.

Two traditional options

Close to Plaça de Sant Jaume, the courtyard at the Museu Frederic Marès is home to the city’s best-known nativity scene, a traditional work put together by the city’s association of nativity-scene builders.

The figures in this scene have been specially made for the occasion by the Italian company Original Heide, and all the decorative vegetation is natural. Olive trees play an important part this year, with typical scenes such as the birth, the annunciation to the shepherds and the arrival of the Three Kings of the Orient taking their inspiration from the mountain of Montserrat and the surrounding area.

The nativity scene at the Museu Frederic Marès is on display until 2 February.

The Monastery of Pedralbes is displaying a popular nativity scene again, also made by the association of nativity-scene builders. The scene will be inaugurated on 13 December and remain on display until 2 February.

Nativity scenes in all districts

Besides these scenes, there are a number of other nativity scenes with all sorts of colours and themes around the city, organised by different entities, groups and centres and built in parish churches, public buildings and other premises.