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Monument · San Sebastián, Basque Country
Peine del Viento
A set of three steel sculptures by Eduardo Chillida embedded in the rocks at the end of Ondarreta beach, with a granite plaza punctured by holes through which the sea blows.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Peine del Viento
The Peine del Viento, Pente do Vento, is at the western end of the bay of San Sebastián, where Ondarreta beach ends on the rocks at the foot of Monte Igueldo. It is the work of the Donostian sculptor Eduardo Chillida and the architect Luis Peña Ganchegui, completed in 1977.
Three corten steel sculptures, each about 10 tonnes, are fixed to the rocks beaten by the waves, shaped like claws or combs open to the sea and the wind. One of them sits further out, alone on a rock. The rust colour of the steel changes with the sea spray.
Peña Ganchegui designed the stepped granite plaza that leads to the sculptures. In the ground, holes connected to underground ducts let out air and water when waves hit from below, with blasts and jets that surprise passersby.
The place looks very different depending on the sea: on stormy days the waves cover the rocks and the plaza; with calm seas it is a peaceful spot at the end of the promenade.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 40 minutes.
Best time
When the sea is rough and the tide is high, to see the waves and the jets of air through the holes. At dusk, the low light looks beautiful on the steel.
How to get there
It is at the end of Ondarreta beach, about 2.5 km from the centre, roughly a 30-minute walk along the La Concha promenade. City buses stop near the Igueldo funicular station.
Tip
On stormy days, keep away from the edge: waves can wash over the plaza. Combine it with the Igueldo funicular, a few minutes on foot.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Peine del Viento
Who made the Peine del Viento?
The sculptor Eduardo Chillida, with the plaza by architect Luis Peña Ganchegui, in 1977.
What are the holes in the square's ground?
Holes connected to ducts under the rocks; when the waves hit, air and water come out of them.
What's the best time to see the Peine del Viento?
When the sea is rough and the tide is high, when the waves strike the sculptures.