The only kind of ‘snow’ I’m fond of- a bed of salt crystals, making a backdrop for the Presépio do Sal, in Castro Marim. Every year, throughout Portugal, Nativity scenes take pride of place in towns and villages. In this small Algarve village, more than 7 tons of locally produced salt form the basis of the scene. This has been an exceptional year for salt production, and the Nativity is a wonderful tribute to the salt pans and their workers.
At weekends there are story times for children and music concerts. You have until 6th January to visit if you are in the area. I’m happy to add this post to Amy’s Lens-Artists theme, On Display, this week, with wishes to all for a Christmas full of joy.
restlessjo 
Beautifully captured and so Christmassy! Love it! Wishing you and all at home a Happy Christmas! xoxo
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Thank you so much! 🙂 🙂 A very Merry Christmas to you too, and a wonderful year ahead.
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Just how many hours of work are there in all this – fantastic! Thank you for showing us this display and Happy Holidays to you and yours, Jo!
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Thanks, sweetheart! So many smiles when you see something like this 🙂 🙂
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♥
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Wow, Jo, these are amazing scenes! I can imagine spending an entire day staring at all the little creatures and such and coming up with separate stories for them all. And, I’m with you about that snow… except here in Kentucky, I’m afraid it’s still made of precipitation and not of salt! Happy Holidays to you both and enjoy those Algarve winter temps!
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Thanks, Liesbet. 🙂 🙂 Not envious! Merry Christmas to you both.
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WOW! That is a lot of salt and a lot of nativity! It must be Christmas! Have a good one, Mel
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I think it’s getting close, Mel 🙂 🙂 Same to you, hon!
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I can imagine spending hours gazing at this. Not so sure about visiting 5 though!
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All very different though, Jude. Some with life size creations like the Odeleite one (with the sculpture pigs 🙂 )
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Absolutely gorgeous nativity scenes, Jo. I have to say that life in Portugal does look a cut above. So much to see and do. 😘 Merry Christmas. 🎄🎅🏻
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I’ve not been disappointed so far, Ad 🙂 🙂 Thanks, darlin and a very Merry Christmas to you and himself!
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😘
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I keep trying to convince hubby that we should look at this possibility.
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🙂 🙂
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He’s worried about not speaking the lingo.
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English is widely spoken 🙂 🙂
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Now he has no excuse. 😅
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🙂 🙂
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Wow this is quite a display – be the salt of the earth!
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Not me, Abrie 🙂 🙂 Merry Christmas to you!
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Restlessjo? eat some of that salt on display and you will be very restless 🙂 Merry Christmas
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Just beautiful. Merry Christmas, Jo!
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Merry Christmas, Angela, and good health and happiness in 2020! 🙂 🙂
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I love that!! A very merry Christmas to you and yours as well, Jo, even though I may wish you that at least once more before the actual day. For now, enjoy Wednesday! 🙂
janet
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Yes, it’s a little early to start, but some people stop blogging entirely over the holiday period. Merry Christmas, hon! Home from a fun, if rather damp, croquet Christmas party 🙂 🙂
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Extraordinary!! More than 7 tons of locally produced salt form the basis of the scene, Wow!
Beautiful and special nativity scenes on display. Thank you so much for this wonderful tour.
Merry Christmas to you and yours, Jo!
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You’re so welcome, Amy! Glad to have something I can join in with. Merry Christmas, hon! 🙂 🙂
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I really enjoyed this series. Thank you again, Jo. 🙂 🙂
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What an amazing display! This really gets you in the Christmas spirit. Thanks, Jo! 🙂
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That’s how we felt when we went to see it, with Marie 🙂 🙂
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What a wonderful use for salt, and how lovely to see all these nativity scenes without ploughing through snow. We are not expecting snow on the Isle of Wight – in fact we seldom have it apart from on some high ground – and I am more than pleased about that.
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I’m hoping to nip in and out of the UK without seeing any, Mari. However lovely in it’s pure crystal state, it’s so disruptive to travel 😦 Merry Christmas to you! 🙂 🙂
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Wishing you a very Happy Christmas Jo and safe travels.
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Thanks a lot, and Merry Christmas, Marion! At home? 🙂 🙂
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Yes, always home for Christmas!
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You could write a whole novel about what’s going on here. Tempted? It must have been fun putting this display together.
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Nope! It takes me all my time to keep up with every day as it is 🙄. Merry Christmas, Margaret 🎅🎄⛄🦌💕
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And to you! And we’ll be in Spain for Reyes. Is that a ‘thing’ in Portugal too?
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It is, but not so much. I always want to nip over the border 🙂 🙂
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Maybe you should?
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We did, last year… my husband very reluctantly because he regards Spain as ‘the enemy’. I’m joking, but only just! 😦 😦
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Amazing and so beautiful Jo, thanks for sharing 🙂
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I love these scenes, Eunice. So much effort and delight for all. Merry Christmas 🎅🎄⛄🦌💕
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That is absolutly amazing Jo! Thank you so much for sharing!
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It makes you feel so Christmassy, going to something like this. Merry Christmas, Aletta 🙂 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you and your family too 🎄
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Wow so many nativity scenes and so much detail. Fascinating and loads of work involved. Love those kind of things, very Christmassy.
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There are all kinds of different ones throughout the Algarve but this is a particular favourite, Jonno. Merry Christmas 🙂 🙂
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Wow! This is wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing, Jo. So festive!
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Such a lovely atmosphere there, too! Merry Christmas, Jill 🙂 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you too, Jo! ❤
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oh wow looks bigger and better than ever before. It is extraordinary what they create . . . how many presépios have you seen so far?!
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It’s really beautiful. I wish I’d gone on a weekend for the concerts but I didn’t read about it till I looked for a link for this. We went with Marie and had cake in the village 🙂 🙂 Only 4 or 5 so far. Haven’t even seen Vila Real yet but we will! Croquet Christmas party today- a Mad Hatter’s affair if ever there was one.
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Hope you have your hat for the tea!!!
and still plenty of time to get round a few more 😉
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What an amazing feat to construct. Thanks for letting me wander with you to view the display Jo x
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I expect you wouldn’t mind some of the real stuff over there, Brian, but I’m hoping to miss the snow on my brief visit to England. A White Christmas can be beautiful, but chaotic if you’re traveling. 🙂 🙂
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