Island of Sculptures Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Island of Sculptures

Location	Pontevedra, Spain
Area	0.07 km² (17.29 acres)
Created	1997 (Park); 1999 (Sculptures)
Operated by	Municipality of Pontevedra
Status	Public park

The Island of Sculptures, also known as Illa das Esculturas in Galician, is a special park in Pontevedra, Spain. It is an island located close to where the Lérez River meets the sea. This park is like a huge outdoor art museum.

It covers an area of 70,000 square meters, which is about 17 football fields! You can reach the island from both sides of the river using cool bridges. It is the biggest and most important open-air museum in Galicia and one of the best in Spain.

On the island, you can find many interesting things. There's a tall labyrinth, a huge pink stone monument called a menhir, and even a floating house on the Lérez river. You might also see ducks and fish like carp in the water.

History of the Island
Exploring the Island
- Amazing Sculptures
Gallery
See also
- Related articles

History of the Island

The Island of Sculptures was not always an island. It formed over time from sand and dirt carried by the Lérez River. As the river got closer to the sea, it slowed down. This made it drop the sediments, which then built up to create the island.

For a long time, the island was wild and untouched. But in 1997, it was turned into a park for everyone to enjoy. Later, a special art project began there. Twelve famous artists from around the world created artworks for the island.

Their art focused on granite, a type of stone found in Galicia, and how people connect with nature. This project is a great example of land art. Land art is a type of modern art where artists use natural materials and landscapes to create their work. The Island of Sculptures officially opened on July 29, 1999.

Location Map Pontevedra Sculptures Island

Map of the Island of Sculptures

Exploring the Island

The island is a protected natural area, meaning it's important to keep it safe. It is almost a kilometer long and has a long, narrow shape. You'll find areas with tall grasses, open meadows, and paths to walk on.

Three wooden bridges help you cross the small canal inside the island. A cool cable-stayed footbridge connects the island to the Lérez River Walkway. There are 12 unique granite sculptures by international artists spread across the island.

The tides from the sea reach the island, and many birds use it as a place to build their nests. It's a protected area called a "place of community interest" (LIC). The island is also near the Pontevedra Campus, so many students and locals use it for walking or exercising.

Amazing Sculptures

Here are some of the incredible sculptures you can find on the island, made by artists from different countries:

The Italian artist Giovanni Anselmo created Cielo acortado (Shortened Sky). It's a black granite column, about 1.2 meters tall. It represents the space between the sky and the earth.

The German artist Ulrich Rückriem made a pink granite Column. This 5-meter tall stone monument, called a stele, reminds us of old Galician traditions. You'll find it at a crossroads on the island.

The American artist Robert Morris designed the Labyrinth of Pontevedra. This circular labyrinth is two meters high and has a black slate roof. It's inspired by the oldest petroglyph (rock carving) in Europe, found in Mogor, near Marín.

The Portuguese artist José Pedro Croft built a House using grey granite. This 3.20-meter tall structure has no doors or windows. It blends in with nature, and a tree is even part of its walls. The house shows how humans build their own small worlds within the larger world of nature.

The American artist Jenny Holzer placed Eight grey stone benches along the main path. Each bench has twelve thoughtful phrases or aphorisms carved into it. These benches show how art can be useful in everyday life.

The English artist Richard Long created Pontevedra Line. This is a small wall, 37 meters long, made from white granite pieces. It makes you think about walking as both an action and a way to think.

The Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay made Three green slate medallions. These are hanging from eucalyptus trees. Each medallion has the name "Petrarch" and Roman numerals carved into it, referring to sonnets (poems). Finlay wants you to discover the hidden meaning in these numbers. The medallions are placed on trees about five meters high, facing different directions to catch the sun's light.

The French artists Anne and Patrick Poirier created Folie. This is a 3,000 square meter garden located just outside the island, meant to be viewed from it. It's made with stainless steel, grey granite, plants, and trees.

The American artist Dan Graham built a Pyramid. This pink granite pyramid is 1.9 meters high. It looks like it doubles in the river's water. The pyramid is polished so it reflects light and the water, making it seem like a double pyramid.

The Spanish artists and their works are:

Fernando Casás represents The 36 righteous. In the Hebrew tradition, these 36 people are said to support the world. Casás shows them with 36 black granite blocks, spread like fallen tree trunks in the island's forest.

Francisco Leiro installed Saavedra, which is a living room set on a raft floating on the Lérez river. People often call this work La Batea. Saavedra makes a familiar space feel far away and unusual.

Enrique Velasco created a double Camino de Juncos (Reed Path) on the river bank. This work shows how flexible and bendy granite can be, even though it's a hard stone.