Ruta de la Amistad (English: Friendship Route) is a sculpture corridor in Mexico City located along the southern section of the Anillo Periférico highway. The route was inaugurated in 1968 as part of that year Summer Olympics, has a length of 17 kilometers and nineteen sculptures (also called stations) by artists from seventeen countries.
There are also three guest sculptures that are not located on the main route, but in three main venues of the Summer Olympics: El Sol Rojo by American Alexander Calder in the Estadio Azteca, Hombre Corriendo by Mexican Germán Cueto in the Olympic Stadium and Osa Mayor by Mathias Goeritz in the Palacio de los Deportes.
History Ruta de la Amistad was conceived by Mexican painter and sculptor Mathias Goeritz in 1967 as a public art project part of the 1968 Cultural Olympiad. The project was approved by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, President of the Organising Committee of the Games of the XIX Olympiad in Mexico City. Construction happened in 1968 between 17 June and 1 August with the participation of 22 sculptors from seventeen countries.
After the 1968 Olympics the route was partially abandoned and subjected to vandalism. Some sculptures were removed from its original locations due to urban growth and infrastructure works, such as the enlargement of the Anillo Periférico highway. Patronato Ruta de la Amistad, a privately funded organization aimed to protect the route, was established in 1994 and has since helped to maintain and restore the sculptures.
List of sculptures Located on the route + Station Sculpture Image Country Sculptor Original location Current location 1 Señales(Signs) Mexico San Jerónimo roundabout Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 2 El Ancla(The Anchor) Switzerland Anillo Periférico and Luis Cabrera Avenue Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 3 Las Tres Gracias(The Three Graces) Czechoslovakia Pedregal Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 4 Sol(Sun) Japan Anillo Periférico and Camino Santa Teresa Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 5 El Sol Bípedo(The Biped Sun) Hungary Anillo Periférico and Paseo del Pedregal 6 Torre de los Vientos(The Biped Sun) Uruguay Anillo Periférico and Zacatépetl Avenue 7 Hombre de paz(Man of Peace) Italy Miguel Hidalgo Olympic Village Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 8 Disco Solar(Solar Disc) Belgium Olympic Village and Cuicuilco 9 Círculo mágico(Magic Circle) United States Miguel Hidalgo Olympic Village 10 Reloj solar(Sundial) Poland Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 11 México(Mexico) Spain Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 12 Janus Australia Pedregal de Carrasco Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 13 Muro Articulado(Collapsible Wall) Austria Anillo Periférico Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Avenida de los Insurgentes 14 Tertulia de Gigantes(Giants' Tertulia) Netherlands Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Viaducto Tlalpan 15 Puerta de Paz(Door of Peace) Israel Anillo Periférico and Mexico-Xochimilco Avenue 16 Martine France Tepepan 17 Charamusca Africana(African Charamusca) Morocco Anillo Periférico Muyuguarda Avenue Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Viaducto Tlalpan 18 Sin título(Untitled) Mexico Xochimilco 19 Puertas al Viento(Doors to the Wind) Mexico Xochimilco Intersection of Anillo Periférico and Viaducto Tlalpan
Located outside the route + No. Sculpture Image Country Sculptor Location 1 El Sol Rojo(Red Sun) United States Estadio Azteca 2 Hombre Corriendo(Running Man) Mexico Olympic Stadium 3 Osa Mayor(Ursa Major) Mexico Palacio de los Deportes
See also Korean Friendship Pavilion, Mexico
References
External links (in Spanish)