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San Javier's festive double delight: Playmobil and crochet Nativities light up the museum
Over 2,000 plastic figures and 200 handmade yarn scenes bring Christmas magic to life until 6 January
San Javier brings Christmas to life in miniature this year with two very different, but equally charming, Nativity scenes at its museum. If you enjoy a festive display with a twist, this is a lovely one to add to your list.The star attraction is the return of the Playmobil Nativity, filling one of the San Javier Museum’s rooms with more than 2,000 of the famous plastic figures. The set belongs to the Murcian association Sureclick, who have taken care of the detailed assembly, with sponsorship from FCC, the company that runs the municipality’s cleaning service.
Culture councillor David Martínez describes it as “a Hebrew nativity scene, in the classic style, depicting the main glorious mysteries of the birth of Jesus.” He adds that the display “shows the universality of the Playmobil brand and the ability of thousands of pieces to adapt and offer us an almost theatrical set design and staging that takes us back to the times of the birth of Jesus.”
The exhibition was officially opened by mayor José Miguel Luengo, alongside councillors David Martínez and María Dolores Ruiz, and regional director Fernando de Mateo, with local schoolchildren among the first to enjoy the scene.
In the next room, visitors will find a completely different take on the Christmas story: a handmade crochet Nativity by San Javier resident Maika García. Every element, from the human figures to the trees and decorations, is crafted in yarn, with plenty of colour and a traditional feel.Maika explains that she has been creating the figures for four years and first showed them two years ago with about half the number she has now. Today, her set has grown to more than 200 pieces. “Crochet is a hobby that helps me relax when I’m not working,” she says, and she is already thinking about new additions to keep expanding the display.
Mayor Luengo highlighted San Javier’s strong Nativity tradition and encouraged everyone to visit the full route of displays around the municipality. This includes the Nativity Scene of Spain, one of the largest in Europe, the maritime Nativity of Santiago de la Ribera, the rural scene of La Grajuela, the Nativity of the Marchioness in the Town Hall, and the Playmobil and crochet Nativities in the San Javier Museum. He also thanked all those involved, as well as FCC, noting that the Playmobil scene “attracts thousands of visitors each year.”
Both Nativity scenes at the museum can be visited free of charge every day from 10.00am to 2.00pm and from 5.00pm to 9.00pm, closing only on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.Images: Ayuntamiento de San Javier
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
