The Nativity Scene of Roca
Because of the pandemic, this year visits are by appointment only. Check their website for details:
Roca Cuiper is an interesting place. This collection of houses, belonging technically to Meliana, has some fine restaurants, a very useful train station and, every year, its famous nativity scene (Belén), which claims to be the largest in Spain.
I wasn’t expecting to be impressed but the fact is, it is……impressive. The attention to detail is extraordinary, with various Biblical scenes and a plethora of animals, including humans, and a whole lot of moving parts where you can see tradesmen working, sawing wood or drawing water from a well, and even taking a dump.
The sound of water is everywhere as many fountains gush and gurgle, and from time to time there are special effects as they turn out the light and create a new dawn. There is even a swan-infested pond with its own mist.
The project began in 1990, when Melchor Almela Lagarda, along with family and friends, including his father in law Francisco Pascual Albiach, started collecting and installing the first figures, 200 of them occupying 20m2, until its present number of more than 6,000 pieces, with a series of photos to show you how it progressed over the years.
There are Egyptians (not quite sure what they have to do with Christmas) and of course some brutish Roamns mistreating the Jews.
The ‘Belén’ is open until 6th January from 11.30 to 2 and from 5 to 8, and can be found opposite Ca Xoret restaurant, or just follow the sound of screaming kids.
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