Leisure

With the aim of offering new possibilities for family entertainment, the outside spaces of the Cidade da Cultura have leisure areas for children, ready to be used. Balea (Whale) Park, located north of the complex, is a space for play and rest that pays homage to one of the greatest Galician plastic artists: Urbano Lugrís.
In this park’s center rises a structure in the shape of a whale, insPIred by Lugrís’ sea monsters, and more concretely by a painting found in the Malpica Fisherman’s House, painted as tribute to the Costa da Morte (“Coast of Death”)’s old whale hunters. This whale rises in the middle of a place where a fantastical atmosphere is recreated, similar to the worlds created by Lugrís, with enormous pots – over two meters tall – where birch trees and other plants grow, a space with shadow, water and vegetation.
This park is connected to the Bosque de Galicia, being the entry point for those who hike up the Gaiás following the paths. Precisely in the entrance to Balea Park from the Bosque de Galicia we can find a second area for child play, equipped with swings of abstract forms, aiming to stimulate children’s creativity.

Natural space on the side of Mount Pedroso that combines forest, fields and small lakes. It has 3km of walkable paths, a children’s park, a cafeteria and sports areas. From this park start several trails that go across Mount Pedroso, such as the Via Crucis, with stone crosses that take you until the mount’s summit, where panoramic views of Santiago can be seen.

Santiago’s biggest forest park, with 220,000 square meters planted during the XVII century by local citizens. Located on the Mount Pedroso hillside, it was used for centuries for agricultural and shepherding purposes. Its name is a reminder of its leafiness and refers to the German forest of the same name.

Inaugurated in 2014, it stands out because of its botanical and architectural value. Located next to the Sarela river and on the hillside of Mount Pedroso, this property houses the small palace built between 1910 and 1915 at Ramón Gutiérrez de la Peña Quiroga’s request. Designed by architect Jesús López Rego Labarta, the building has a tower, a chapel with gargoyles and a coat of arms. It is also surrounded by 18.000 square meters of gardens, featuring species such as centuries-old oaks, over 80-year-old camellias, hollys, araucarias and more. It also features picnic spots and rest areas with views of Santiago’s monumental área.

This garden of 11,500 square meters has this track to practice this urban sport. In addition, in the same space we can observe a large number of tree species and plants from temperate and oceanic climates, a climbing wall, and play areas.

The Brañas of Sar are a space of around 33 hectares that are part of the basin of the Sar river. The promenade runs from the pools and the Multiusos Fontes do Sar until Pontepedriña, framed to the east by the mounts Viso, Gaiás and Santas Mariñas and to the west by the urban face of the city, with the railway.
Until the 60’s last century, these brañas were populated. The Sar was Compostela’s beach. Adults and children bathed in its natural pools and had afternoon snacks on its bank. Others washed, worked the land, or ground corn in the windmills. In the ethnographic collective remains proof in five windmills and a system of waterways, irrigation canals, walls, washing sites and dams that carry the water, plus the paths, crossings and stone bridges.
The start of the construction for the Cidade da Cultura in 2000 made it so a study of the surroundings of Mount Gaiás was conducted, which allowed for the discovery of elements that showed the Brañas of Sar had received agricultural use since, at least, the V century.

A green area that features a lake of about 5,000 square meters, surrounded by vegetation and by a wooden platform with benches. The regeneration project was led by architect Isabel Aguirre. It also has a grove converted into a leisure space that is also ideal for practicing sports. A network of trails allows for enjoyment of walking through the park and connection with El Viso.

With the aim of offering new possibilities for family entertainment, the outside spaces of the Cidade da Cultura have leisure areas for children, ready to be used. The Parque da Balea (Whale Park), located north of the complex, is a space for play and rest that pays homage to one of the greatest Galician plastic artists: Urbano Lugrís.
In this park’s center rises a structure in the shape of a whale, insipred by Lugrís’ sea monsters, and more concretely by a painting found in the Malpica Fisherman’s House, painted as tribute to the Costa da Morte (“Coast of Death”)’s old whale hunters. This whale rises in the middle of a place where a fantastical atmosphere is recreated, similar to the worlds created by Lugrís, with enormous pots – over two meters tall – where birch trees and other plants grow, a space with shadow, water and vegetation.
This park is connected to the Bosque de Galicia, being the entry point for those who hike up the Gaiás following the paths. Precisely in the entrance to the Parque da Balea from the Bosque de Galicia we can find a second area for child play, equipped with swings of abstract forms, aiming to stimulate children’s creativity.