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Sculpture garden · Escondido, California
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
Sculpture garden by Niki de Saint Phalle in Kit Carson Park, Escondido, with totems and figures covered in mosaics around Queen Califia mounted on an eagle. It’s open only a few days a week.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Queen Califia's Magical Circle
The garden is the final major work of French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, who spent her last years in the San Diego area. She died in 2002, and the garden opened in October 2003 inside Kit Carson Park in Escondido.
The ensemble is inspired by the legend of Queen Califia, ruler of a mythical island that supposedly gave California its name. At the center, the figure of the queen, covered in golden mosaic, rises atop an eagle about 4 meters tall. Around it are eight totems from 3 to 6 meters high, an egg-shaped golden fountain, and a serpent-shaped wall about 120 meters long that closes the circle and forms a small maze at the entrance.
The mosaics mix glass, mirror, stone, and ceramic, and shine in the sun. Visiting depends on volunteers: the garden is open only on certain days of the week and closes on rainy days and for a day or two afterward.
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
From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
On sunny days, when the mosaics sparkle; check opening days before you go.
How to get there
It’s in Kit Carson Park, in south Escondido, about 10 km from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Access is by car; there is parking in the park.
Tip
Check the opening schedule and the weather forecast: after rain the garden is closed for one or two days.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Queen Califia's Magical Circle
Who made the Queen Califia's Magical Circle?
The artist Niki de Saint Phalle; the garden opened in 2003, after her death.
Is the Queen Califia's Magical Circle open every day?
No. It is open only on certain days of the week with volunteers, and it closes on rainy days and for a short period afterward.
Who was Queen Califia?
A figure from a 16th-century Spanish legend, queen of a mythical island whose name is said to have inspired the name California.