Mollina, a village in Malaga Province, is to open a museum dedicated to the year-round display of nativity scenes. With more than 7,000 figures Mollina's own nativity scene is widely regarded as the largest on the planet and visitors flock from all corners of the earth to see the amazing display, which opens to the public in December 2016.
Mollina has been a settlement since Neolithic times, although the present village dates mostly from the 16th century, after the Reconquest of Spain had established Christianity again, following the expulsion of the Moors. Rural areas were parcelled out for agricultural use to the victorious Christians, who established olive groves that made the region prosperous for centuries to come. Cereal production was added roughly at the same time. Later the Convent de la Ascension was founded, which eventually drew local peasants to settle around its fortified walls.
Around 3,500 residents make up this Christmas-loving community. Until now, Mollina's most visited building was the convent, famous for the lovely sundial on its facade. All that is about to change with the new 5,000 square metre nativity scene museum that will certainly add to Mollina's tourism appeal. Located just 15 km north-west of Antequera along the A-92, the village sits on the lower slopes of the Sierra de Mollina. Laguna de Fuente de la Piedra, a lake famous for its pink flamingo population, is located just 10 km distance from Mollina. It is a popular day trip destination for birdwatchers touring the island with car rental from Mallorca Airport, but so far Mollina itself has not been regarded as a worthwhile destination on such tourists' travel itineraries.
Labour of Love for die-hard Nativity Scene Fans
At a cost of more than 3 million euros, the new museum site will include an art gallery, an auditorium, conference rooms and several exhibition halls. The museum's exhibits were lovingly collected over a 15-year period by Ana and Antonio Diaz, the instigators of this ambitious project.
Some of the historic exhibits were made in Italy, India and Palestine, while others were created by renown nativity scene sculptors, including José Luis Mayo and Josep Traité.
In Contrast to Andalucia's pagan History
Mollina's name may derive from Torre Mollina, a milling tower, which was demolished some time during the Middle Ages, according to some local historians. An alternative local legend suggests that the village received its name during Roman times and derives from the Latin word “mollis”, meaning “suave”. Whatever the origins of its name, Mollina makes for a worthwhile stop-over on a discovery tour into Andalucia's pagan history.
Just 7 km distance from the village a rectangular Roman mausoleum of La Capuchina bears witness to the area's ancient Roman credentials. A short 4-km walk out of Mollina the ruins of Castellum of Santillán is evidence of the region's turbulent political times which occurred towards the end of Roman occupation of Andalucia. The fortress's ruins cover an area of ca. 1,400 square metres but actually started life as a residential settlement that grew around an important Roman villa. Eventually the settlement needed greater protection and a fortress with receive defensive walls was built.
Little remains from earlier pre-Christian times, although various Neolithic artefacts were found during excavations in neighbouring Sierra de la Camorra. The new nativity scene museum will put Mollina firmly on the tourism trail.