The sculpture is crafted from reinforced concrete rather than the steel typically associated with Chillida's work.
The interior of the sculpture creates a sound chamber that amplifies the roar of the ocean waves striking the cliffside.
The structure occupies the former location of a military fortification that guarded the Gijón harbor.
It was inaugurated in 1990 as part of a project to revitalize the Cerro de Santa Catalina.
The piece was designed to be monumental in scale to hold its own against the vast horizon of the Cantabrian Sea.
Elogio del Horizonte is a 10-meter-high concrete sculpture created by Basque artist Eduardo Chillida in 1990. Located at the tip of the Santa Catalina headland in Gijón, the massive structure weighs approximately 500 tons. The design consists of two large open arms curving upward, intended to frame the view of the Cantabrian Sea. The interior of the concrete form is acoustically designed to amplify the sound of the wind and crashing waves from below. It serves as a prominent landmark and symbol of the city of Gijón. The sculpture is situated within a public park area that overlooks the historic Cimadevilla neighborhood.
From the grass-covered hill facing the sculpture, allowing you to capture the entire structure silhouetted against the ocean horizon.
Bring a windbreaker, as the headland is consistently exposed to strong sea breezes.
Walk all the way into the center of the concrete structure to experience the unique acoustic resonance.
Visit during a high tide for the most dramatic sound effects inside the sculpture.
Attempting to climb on the exterior surfaces of the concrete sculpture.
