We have walk past this little gem, hidden in the
old town of Alicante, tens of times before we noticed that it was a
kind of museum. Inside the (free!) museum were numerous displays
giving a beautiful scenery of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem...
 |
| Museo de Belenes Alicante |
There are some strange
museums in the world and the Museo de Belenes could certainly be on
this list. The museum is rather small, but you will certainly need a
half an hour to take in all the models. There are smaller models,
with more nature and a tiny shed, but then there are also models that
almost show an entire town, with oddly build houses, cobbled streets,
women carrying jugs of water...
Each model is made by a
different artist and allthough they all look stunning realistic,
there each used a different creative approach. For instance, take a
look at the way a palm tree (which is in almost every Nativity scene)
is crafted. You will see palmtree models in many different ways, but
all are evenly beautiful in depicting a very natural looking
palmtree.
 |
| One of the many magnificent model displays |
Although it is a
religious scene that is the main subject, you certainly do not have
to be a religious man to enjoy this museum. If, for instance, you
have a weak for modeling (I plead guilty), you will be in awe by the
detailed models. In any case, if you happen to visit old town
Alicante, you should really just walk in this museum and stroll
around. There is no entrance fee, you just have to search a bit to
find it.
READ MORE
