The nativity scene that crossed the ocean can now be seen for free in San Julián

Topics Agrupación de Cofradías de Semana Santa de Málaga

About thirty nativity scenes from the Basanta-Martín Collection, which comes to Málaga for the first time, are on display until January 5 at the headquarters of the Agrupación de Cofradías.

InforMálaga newsroom · Published on November 6, 2026 at 19:52

Dos hombres mayores en una sala de exposición; uno señala una figura de belén sobre un pedestal y el otro lo observa. — Photo: Agrupación de Cofradías de Málaga

The Temporary Exhibition Hall of the Agrupación de Cofradías de Semana Santa de Málaga, at number 2 on calle Muro de San Julián, has been showing around thirty nativity scenes from the Basanta-Martín Collection since the afternoon of this Friday. Admission is free until capacity is reached. The opening day began at 17:00 with a lecture by Antonio Basanta, curator of the exhibition, which served to introduce the keys to the tour. At 18:30 the doors opened to the public. Both the talk and the visit are free, with open admission until capacity is filled. The exhibition is spread across two rooms. The first deals with the role of Spain in the origin and development of the nativity scene and how the representation was incorporated into the celebration of Christmas. The second focuses on its expansion through America, where nativity-scene making was enriched with local materials, features and traditions. Visitors can thus compare different interpretations of the same scene and the dialogue between Spanish heritage and the cultural identities of the continent. The pieces come from the collection that Antonio Basanta began with his wife in 1977 and which today brings together more than 4,200 references and 35,000 figures from 152 countries. Basanta, born in Madrid in 1953, holds a doctorate in Hispanic Literature from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and has developed his career in the promotion of reading as a teacher, editor, cultural project manager, lecturer and author. The exhibition, part of the institution's «FE» cycle, is sponsored by Fundación Unicaja, Junta de Andalucía, Diputación Provincial de Málaga, Ayuntamiento de Málaga and UMAS Seguros, and with the collaboration of AC Hoteles. The presentation was given by the president of the Agrupación de Cofradías, José Carlos Garín, and Basanta himself, as detailed by the brotherhood entity.

Opening hours and closing days

It can be visited from Tuesday to Friday, from 16:00 to 20:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 12:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. It will remain closed on Mondays, December 25 and January 1. The deadline to see it ends on January 5, 2027.

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The nativity scene that crossed the ocean can now be seen for free in San Julián

Opening hours and closing days

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