Grotto of the Nativity, Religious sanctuary in Bethlehem, Palestine.

The Grotto of the Nativity is a narrow cave beneath the Church of the Nativity, measuring 12.3 by 3.5 metres and 3 metres high, oriented west to east. Two 15-step staircases from the reign of Justinian the Great descend symmetrically at its eastern end. The floor and lower walls are clad in light marble, the upper walls draped with 19th-century hangings, and the soot-blackened ceiling holds 32 of the grotto's 53 hanging lamps.

Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the first basilica above the grotto in the 4th century following his mother Helena's pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The original church underwent multiple reconstructions and expansions over the following centuries, with each era leaving its mark.

The silver star bears the Latin inscription "Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus est. 1717" and has 14 rays, read as the three groups of 14 generations in Matthew's genealogy. Above it hang 15 lamps: six Orthodox, five Armenian and four Catholic. The adjacent Altar of the Manger, in Catholic hands, has a marble-lined hollow shaped like a cradle beneath five lamps.

Access is via staircases descending from the main church, and the underground space can feel tight, so take your time moving through it carefully. Visiting hours vary between warmer and cooler months, so check ahead before planning your visit.

The grotto holds 53 hanging lamps, a number unchanged for a long time; 32 of them hang from the soot-blackened ceiling. Above the silver star, 15 lamps fill the semicircular niche: six Orthodox, five Armenian and four Catholic. Two more small glass lamps stand on the floor just behind the star.