From the Americas to Asia: a world of nativity scenes on display at the Convent of the Capuchos

This Christmas, the Convent of the Capuchos in Sintra celebrates the season with an exhibition that exalts nature, biodiversity and spirituality: a true journey around the world. From 28 November to 6 January, Parques de Sintra presents a collection of fifty nativity scenes at the monument, crafted from plants and trees originating from various regions of the globe. The exhibition was curated by invitation of Professor Luís Mendonça de Carvalho, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Ethnobotany at the Polytechnic Institute of Beja. ‘Among Stone and Moss, Saint Francis’s Nativity Scene’ also features a parallel activity inviting families to embrace the Christmas spirit by building a sustainable nativity scene, while contributing to the reforestation of the Sintra Hills.

Thanks to its unique construction, which embraces the natural elements of the hills, and the legacy of the Franciscan friars who inhabited it for over 300 years in harmony with nature, the Convent of the Capuchos embodies sustainability, a value echoed throughout ‘Among Stone and Moss, Saint Francis’s Nativity Scene.’ Each item in the exhibition, shaped from fibres, seeds, fruits or woods, evokes the humility that inspired the friars’ way of life. Woods from Italy and the United States, coconuts from Cambodia, cork and willow from Portugal, ebony from Togo and Ghana, mahogany from Kenya, vegetable ivory from Ecuador, beech from Ireland and olive wood from Israel all reflect the traditions of the cultures that shaped these works.

The connection between the nativity scene and the Convent of the Capuchos is also revealed through the founder of the religious order who once lived in this convent: Saint Francis of Assisi, who was responsible for the first live nativity scene eight centuries ago: a living representation of the birth of Jesus and the moment He was revealed to the shepherds and the Magi.

More than just an ethnobotanical display, this exhibition, perfectly integrated within the serene spirituality of this relic woodland, offers an aesthetic and contemplative experience as well as a celebration of biodiversity and multiculturalism. A visit to the convent thus becomes a journey through the world’s landscapes and through the many ways in which the sacred, the natural, and human come together.

‘Among Stone and Moss, Saint Francis’s Nativity Scene’ is on display at the Garden House in the Convent of the Capuchos. Entry to the exhibition is included in the monument admission ticket, which is free on Sundays and public holidays for residents of Portugal.

Exhibition inspires workshops on building sustainable nativity scenes

Inspired by ‘Among Stone and Moss, Saint Francis’s Nativity Scene,’ Parques de Sintra will host guided tours of the Convent of the Capuchos combined with workshops on crafting nativity scenes using natural elements. These will take place on 1, 6, 8 and 13 December at 10:30 a.m., and the proceeds will go towards a very special cause: reforestation efforts in the Sintra Hills following the destruction caused by Storm Martinho in March of this year.

Designed especially for families with children aged 5 and up, the activity begins with an introduction to the history of the convent and the way of life of the Franciscan community who inhabited it for nearly three centuries. Participants then take a short walk through the convent grounds — home to centuries-old native trees and a wide variety of plants once protected and used by the friars for food and medicine — during which they are invited to collect natural elements to build their own nativity scene, around which they will celebrate Christmas at home.

Tickets for this activity, which lasts around two hours, are sold exclusively online via the Parques de Sintra website and cost €5 per person.