2014-12-26

The Route of the Faces, Spain

The route is located on the banks of the swamp of Buendia in the Cuenca province of Castilla la Mancha lies a fascinating hiking route, unlike any other in Spain. Sculpted into the natural façade of the rocks and dotted among the beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces. The area, close to the city of Madrid, is thick with dense pine forests and outcrops of sandstone rock, overlooking the waters of the Buendía dam. Strolling the hiking paths through this landscape, an onlooker is taken on a cultural and artistic journey of spiritual discovery.

Maitreya and Arjuna
Maitreya and Arjuna. Image credit jacinta lluch valero
The route is perfect for both nature and art lovers alike and takes one out of the traditional museum setting into a more natural, serene forest, allowing the onlooker to see the relationship between the art and nature itself. Several artists collaborated over the years on this amazing artistic route, creating an impressive and striking collection of sculptures, ranging in size from 1 to 8 feet in height. Each face has a mystical or religious meaning behind it and, carved into the natural sandstone, reminds one of Pharaonic Egypt, and the artists themselves say they were inspired by Pre-Columbian cultures, but continued their solid and rounded sculptures sharing feature of the eastern front position models particularly India. These sculptures reflect on their faces what some call the archaic smile, used by artists as a device that gives mysterious faces a characteristic trait. One of the most famous sculptures, which had already seen several pictures without knowing where he was, is a huge skull located on top of a mound. All figures are of exceptional beauty. Seem to have slept on the rock for centuries.

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Image credit eduardo gs

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
It is a "different" route find on your way with cultural elements, almost nobody knows these sculptures. They are of up to 3.50 m in height, their names are very evocative. Image credit jacinta lluch valero

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
El bosque de las caras. Image credit Juan Carlos Bustos Morán
The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Krishna, with the height of 3.50 meters. Image credit jacinta lluch valero
The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
La Monja with the height of 1.50 meters. Since 1992, Jorge Maldonado and Eulogio J Reguillo come sculpting his magic works in this beautiful place ... A stone Buendia world that creates a mystical atmosphere. A museum in nature. Image credit jacinta lluch valero
The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Currency of Life with the height of  2 meters.  In the Route Faces sculptures 'land-art' break the border of museums and urban areas to extol and magnify the Sculpture and Nature relationship from spiritual reflection. Image credit jacinta lluch valero

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Image credit rodrigo peniza

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Image credit Victor Ferrando

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Image credit Gonzalo Malpartida

The beautiful landscape in the area are 18 carved faces and bas-reliefs. This is the La Ruta de las Caras, or in English, the Route of the Faces.
Image credit Victor Ferrando

Source —Rutadelascaras | Allvoices

No comments:

Post a Comment

Zone of Silence – Mapimí Silent Zone

Zone of Silence is a place full of mystery and legends. A desert where radio signals were not found, and the compass stopped working. This ...