THREE versions of Bethlehem in Benidorm, Spain

Spot the difference!
Costa Blanca’s Benidorm has three Nativity scenes that can be visited at L’Hort de Colon, the town hall and the La Barqueta cultural centre.
First to be inaugurated was the L’Hort de Colon tableau in Calle Tomas Ortuño where the Christmas lights were switched on as the museum doors opened to admit the two Fiestas’ queens, Benidorm mayor Toni Perez and the Fiestas councillor Jesus Carrobles.
The Nativity scene has more than 200 figures and represents Israel as it would have been at the time of Christ’s birth.
The town hall’s own Nativity scene, which was inaugurated later the same day, uses more than 2,000 Playmobil figures and was designed by Sergio Molla.
Based on his recreation of how Benidorm might have looked 2,000 years ago, he designed it for children to enjoy and for their parents to spot similarities with the present-day town, Molla said.
The La Barqueta opened its traditional Nativity scene to the public a day later at its Calle Tomas Ortuño premises.
The La Barqueta tableau has 600 figures and has been part of Benidorm’s Christmas traditions since 1980.
 
Photo credit: Benidorm town hall