Belén del Ayuntamiento de Madrid

Belén del Ayuntamiento de Madrid

From 23 November to 5 January

23 November, from 4pm to 7pm. [last entry].

From 24 November to 4 January, from 10:30am to 7pm [last entry]

24 and 31 December and 5 January: from 10:30am to 1pm [last entry]

Closed Mondays 25 December and 1 January

Entry every 30 minutes, subject to capacity limits

The Madrid City Hall Nativity Scene pays homage to what St. Francis of Assisi did in Greccio, Italy, on 25 December 1223: “For I would make memorial of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, and in some sort behold with bodily eyes His infant hardships; how He lay in a manger on the hay, with the ox and the ass standing by”, in the words of the friar and chronicler, Thomas of Celano.

In this year of 2023 - the first year in which the Ministry of Culture and Sport has declared Nativity Scenes to be a Representative Manifestation of Spain's Intangible Cultural Heritage - the City Hall Nativity Scene will commemorate the eighth centenary of the beginning of this tradition. It is located in the Operations Hall of CentroCentro, in a circular setting that allows visitors an excellent view of the entire tableau. It features two hundred Hebrew-style figures - in keeping with the customs and costumes of the time of Jesus - and twenty constructions and plant elements, all original works by the master nativity scene maker José Luis Mayo.

The design, scenography and landscape composition is by the Association of Nativity Scene Makers of Madrid and represent a sequence of six historical scenes: the Annunciation to the Virgin; the search for an inn in Bethlehem; the Nativity; the Annunciation to the shepherds; the Journey of the Magi and the Flight to Egypt, including, for the first time, the sea. The tableau also retains the river and popular scenes such as the mill and its miller, household chores such as cleaning and caring for the animals, and traditional trades such as those of the carpenter, the blacksmith, and the carter.

Finished

Thu 23 Nov - Fri 5 Jan 2024

Mondays closed

CentroCentro - Operations Hall (Patio de operaciones)

Precio Obtain your tickets in advance at the ticket office or book online

Buy Tickets

Free admission: please obtain your tickets in advance at the ticket office or book online (€0.50 booking fee)

Maximum of 4 tickets per person

Accessibility type

Guided audio described tours for people with impaired vision

Visits with an audio guide and magnetic loop

A mobile app has been developed to provide the public with an audio guide explaining the nativity scene, and magnetic induction loops will also be available so that people with hearing aids or cochlear implants can listen to the audio guide.

Information on how to download the app will be available at the entrance to the Nativity Scene and the public will be able to borrow induction loops from the centre’s information desk.

Visits with Sign Language interpretation, scenic walk and audio description

On 23 December and 3 January, at 1 and 5pm on both days, visitors to the Nativity Scene will be able to avail themselves of accessibility measures.

These visits, which have to be booked in advance, will last for one hour. The first half hour of the visit consists of a scenic walk followed by a tour of the nativity scene. Capacity: 14 people.

Visitors will be asked to produce a disability card or equivalent accreditation

Bookings can be made by email: [email protected] or by phone: 914800008 - Mondays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm

CentroCentro offers a video interpretation service to those who need it, provided by sign language interpreters who act as intermediaries to help deaf people to purchase their tickets.

The service may be accessed, during the same opening hours, by clicking on the following link: Video Interpreting Service for Deaf People 

CentroCentro - Operations Hall (Patio de operaciones)

PLAZA CIBELES , 1

Place of employment information:

Directions:

  • Metro: Banco de España
  • Renfe Cercanías: Recoletos
  • Bus: E1, 203, 14, 27, 37, 45, C03, 1, 146, 15, 2, 20, 51, 52, 74, 9, 10, 34, 001
  • Aparcamiento: Montalbán (49), C/ Montalbán (entre Alfonso XI y paseo Prado)
  • Bicimad: Estación 86 (Plaza Cibeles)

Distrito Retiro

Download the poster

The Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports of the Madrid City Council facilitates the download of the official poster of the Madrid Christmas Programme 2023 campaign created by Polinho Trapalleiro.

Authorized download for home use only. Any other use subject to authorization. © MADRID DESTINO CULTURA TURISMO Y NEGOCIO, S.A., 2023