Catalan retiree transforms his home with 13 elaborate nativity scenes

Albert Gomis, 73, lives in a century-old house in the heart of Sant Quintí de Mediona, a small town in the Alt Penedès region.

Over the years, he has transformed it into what amounts to a private museum of nativity scenes, with 13 elaborate displays filling nearly every corner of the home.

Most of the installations are large-scale. "Every year I think about what I can do differently, or how I can improve what I've already built, and then I get straight to work," Gomis told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

His passion is well known locally, but he now wants to open it up to visitors from further afield, showcasing the results of a hobby that keeps him busy all year round.

Sant Quintí de Mediona, with a population of about 2,400, hosts a nativity play on December 25 and 26, and Gomis opens the ground floor of his home to the public.

Now, encouraged by a friend, he is aiming to attract visitors throughout the entire Christmas period. In fact, his goal is to make his displays a permanent draw in the town. 

Gomis says he began building nativity scenes 15 years ago. He has since created 13 displays and has no plans to stop.

Visitors are greeted by a dazzling display of lights, fountains, and loud Christmas music, blending natural landscapes with traditional Nativity figures – including a pooping Lionel Messi caganer figurine.

Another scene opposite honors Our Lady of Lourdes, all crafted from real stones, bark, and moss.

Gomis spends countless hours designing rivers, waterfalls, and intricate landscapes, acquiring over 200 figurines over the years.

Future plans for Gomis include recreations of the Montserrat mountains and Gaudí's Sagrada Família.