The largest nativity scene (“presépio”) is in Vila Real Santo António in the eastern Algarve. The display, at the Centro Cultural António Aleixo, spans 240 square meters (2583 square feet) and features no less than 6000 pieces. The Presépio Gigante (“Giant Nativity”) will be open every day through 6 January.
The presépio crew–Augusto Rosa, Teresa Marques and Joaquim Soares, joined this year by Tiago Soares and Paulo Rodrigues–worked more than 40 days to construct the scene depicting what life may have looked like at the time of Christ’s birth. 20 tons of sand, 4 tons of stone dust, 3000 kilos of cork and hundreds of accessories were used in the recreation.
Take a closer look and you might be able to recognize landmarks of VRSA incorporated in the scene such as Praça Marquês de Pombal, the old huts on the beach of Monte Gordo, the salt pans, a traditional Algarvian waterwheel, as well as other local monuments.
The display is a feat of model-making prowess. There are 100 animated and motorized pieces, along with still and flowing water, all engineered with hidden cables and pipes to illuminate houses, circulate water and offer other surprises.
Also of note in the assemblage is the recreation of a Roman road, which is highlighted throughout the structure.
The Giant Nativity is open most days from 10:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 19:00.
Presépio Gigante | Giant Nativity
Centro Cultural António Aleixo
Rua Dr. Teófilo Braga
Vila Real Santo António
Eastern Algarve
Phone: +351 281 510 045
Everyday – 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 19:00
24 & 31 December – 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:00
25 December – 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 19:00
1 January – opens at 14:30 to 19:00
Entrance: €1 – Older than 4 years old
Photos courtesy of Câmara Municipal de Vila Real Santo António
