Salvador Dali’s 11 Public Outdoor Sculptures in Marbella

The beautiful Andalusian city of Marbella on the Spanish Costa del Sol is typically regarded as a glamorous holiday resort and extravagant playground for the wealthy. But did you know that priceless original artwork graces its streets?

If you are an art aficionado, head to Avenida del Mar, a grand, tree lined promenade in the city centre and the main walkway connecting Alameda Park near the Old Town with the seafront. The area was once a public park and flower garden; today it is home to a permanent collection of surrealist art, with 10 sculptures by Salvador Dali, one of Spain’s most influential 20^th century artists.

Purchased by Jesus Gil, former Mayor of Marbella, in the 1990s, the statues were part of a rejuvenation project of the area, making it the iconic landmark it is today.

If you have some time to spare of an afternoon and are not averse to a little art appreciation, treat yourself to a walk down Avenida del Mar. With its fountains, cafes and wonderful sea views, you couldn’t find a more perfect surrounding to admire Dali’s art.

Each of the statues is cast in bronze and bears a name plaque and Dali’s signature – although they are rumoured to be copies rather than originals – and each piece has the surrealist hallmark of the great man’s famous work.

Heading south, you will encounter 5 huge Dali sculptures before you arrive at the decorative central fountain dating from 1992, followed by another 5 pieces further down. In sequence, they are names:

1. Perseo (Perseus) – a statue from Greek mythology, depicting the beheading of the Medusa by the mythological Greek hero Perseus

1. Gala Gradiva – Dali’s nickname for his wife Gala, born Elena Ivanovna Diakonova

1. Mercurio (Mercury) – depicting Mercury, the Roman Messenger of the Gods

1. Trajano a Caballo – representing the Roman Emporer Trajan on Horseback

1. Gala Asomada a la Ventana – showing Dali’s wife Gala at the window

1. Caballo con Jinete Tropezando – Horse and Rider Stumbling

1. Elefante Cosmico – Space Elephant

1. Mujer Desnuda Subiendo la Escalera – Nude Ascending A Staircase

1. Don Quixote Sentado – Don Quixote Seated

1. Hombre Sobre Delfin – Man on Dolphin

1. The 11^th Dali sculpture is hard to miss. It can be found on the Cristamar roundabout at the entrance into Puerto Banus, where it was placed in 2004. The huge 3-ton Rinoceronte Vestido Con Puntillas (Rhinoceros Dressed In Lace) is a sculpture Dali created in 1956 following the filming of the surrealist movie La Aventura Prodigiosa de la Encajera y el Rinoceronte (The Prodigious Adventure of the Lacemaker and the Rhinoceros). The eye-catching statue was donated to Marbella to commemorate the centenary of Dali’s birth.

Finally, if your appetite for surrealist art by one of Spain’s best known sons has still not been sated, why not visit the Ralli Museum, Marbella’s modern art museum, where more of Dali’s fantastic sculptures can be viewed. Artwork by Dali is also on permanent display at the Spanish Contemporary Engravings Museum, also located in Marbella.

Article provided by Mike James, an independent content writer working together with Panorama.es, Marbella’s longest running real estate agent.

April 21, 2023