The initiative starts from the headquarters of the Maritime Action Forcebased in the historic Palace of the Captaincy of Cartagena. On the occasion of Christmas, the Navy decided to open the main door of the building so that the public could see the traditional nativity scene installed inside. The measure aims to bring the institution closer to citizens and highlight a custom that has been part of the Navy’s internal calendar for decades. The information was communicated by the institution itself and can be consulted on the official portal of the Ministry of Defense and the Navy.
The opening takes place in a particularly symbolic enclave. The Capitania Palace, located in Plaza San Sebastián, is one of the most recognizable buildings in the historic center of Cartagena and one of the most important military headquarters in the Spanish Mediterranean. For most of the year, access is restricted, making this Christmas initiative a unique one.
A nursery with institutional significance
The Nativity displayed at the main entrance to the palace is not an improvised decorative element. This is a traditional nativity scene installed each year by the Navy as part of internal Christmas celebrations. The difference on this occasion is that, by express decision of the command, it was decided to allow public viewing.
The Christmas scene maintains a classic composition, respectful of the Spanish tradition of nativity scenes. The figures represent the Birth of Jesus with a sober aesthetic, in accordance with the institutional environment in which it is located. It is not a large assembly, but rather a careful installation, designed to integrate with the architecture of the building.
Tour times and dates
The main gate of the Palace of the Captaincy will remain open until the next January 6coinciding with Three Kings Day. The schedule established for the visits is 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.a specific band which makes institutional activity compatible with opening to the public.
Access is from Plaza San Sebastián itself, without requiring prior registration. The visit is brief and aims to facilitate the orderly movement of visitors, guaranteeing at all times the security of the premises and the normal operation of the headquarters.
The Capitania Palace, a jewel of the 18th century
The building that houses the Crèche is one of the most emblematic constructions of Cartagena’s historical heritage. The Palace of the General Captaincy was built in the year 1740during the reign of Philip V, at a key moment for the naval development of the city.
Since its origins, the property has been linked to maritime and military activity. Its strategic location, close to the port and the Arsenal, responds to the importance that Cartagena acquired as a first-class naval base in the 18th century.
Maritime Action Force Headquarters
Currently, the palace houses the headquarters of the Maritime Action Force, one of the main operational commands of the Spanish Navy. Missions related to maritime security, surveillance of maritime spaces and the protection of national interests at sea are coordinated from this enclave.
The opening of the building on the occasion of Christmas is not only a cultural gesture, but also an institutional one. It allows citizens to be shown an image close to the Navy and to strengthen their link with the city of Cartagena, historically linked to naval defense.
A tradition that connects the Navy to the city
Cartagena has a historic relationship with the Navy that goes beyond the presence of military installations. The city has grown and developed in close connection with its port and with the naval units based there over the centuries.
The possibility of accessing the Palace of the Captaincy to contemplate the nativity scene reinforces this link. For many residents and visitors, it is a unique opportunity to walk through a door that normally remains closed and see, if only occasionally, the interior of a building steeped in history.
Christmas and military heritage
The initiative is part of a growing trend within the armed forces to open certain spaces on specific dates, with the aim of disseminating historical and military heritage and promoting knowledge of the institution within civil society.
In this context, the nativity scene of the Capitanía of Cartagena becomes more than just a Christmas scene. It is a meeting point between tradition, history and citizenship, which allows the Spanish Navy to show a cultural and heritage facet that is less visible the rest of the year.
The opening will remain active until Epiphany, thus closing the Christmas cycle with one of the most deeply rooted traditions both in the religious and institutional field, in a building that constitutes an essential part of the history of Cartagena and the Spanish Navy.
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