To see the Cubos de la Memoria and harbour in Llanes, start at the fishing port, where Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola painted the breakwater’s concrete blocks. You can view them from the waterfront and continue toward Faro de Llanes, about a 5-minute walk from Hotel Puerto de Llanes, a hotel with Hotel Puerto de Llanes rooms.
- Setting: Llanes fishing port, on the breakwater.
- What to notice: Abstract painted forms, with colours and shapes that change in appearance with light and water.
- Waterfront route: The port-side itinerary continues to the lighthouse area along Paseo de San Antón.
- Nearby sights: The historic quarter, the Basilica of Santa María and Paseo de San Pedro.
Finding the harbour and Cubos de la Memoria
The Cubos de la Memoria stand at the entrance to Llanes fishing port, as part of its breakwater. The official Llanes urban and river-walk itinerary traces a route beside the port, passing the fort, the former fish market, the fishing port, the Cubos and the marina.
That sequence makes the artwork easy to include in a waterfront walk: follow the port-side route and take time to look at the blocks from different viewpoints. The east end of Paseo de San Pedro is another viewpoint for seeing the Cubos.
If you want to add the town’s lanes and defensive remains to your day, a walk through Llanes Old Town and its medieval walls covers that part of the visit.
What to look for in the painted harbour blocks
The Cubos are a large-scale work painted directly onto the concrete blocks of the breakwater. More than 200 blocks on its north and south faces are decorated. The project was completed in three phases: the first began in summer 2001, the second took place in 2003, and the final phase was completed in December 2006.
Rather than forming a single figurative scene, the painted shapes and colours shift in appearance with the light and water. Look closely at the lowest blocks for motifs including eyes and fish, then step back to take in how the painted surfaces sit against the harbour.
The changing conditions are part of how the artwork is seen, so the same forms can look different from one viewpoint to another.
Walking from the harbour to the lighthouse
The official waterfront itinerary follows Paseo de San Antón from the port to the Faro de Llanes area. The lighthouse viewpoint looks toward the south face of the Cubos, giving you a different angle on the painted breakwater; the lighthouse itself was built in 1860.
From the lighthouse area, the route continues past Puerto Chico beach toward the campsite. A small path around the campsite area offers another view.
You can also take a separate route from the port toward the bridge, cross Paseo de las Marismas and join the Carrocedo River path toward Pancar; that route returns by retracing the path to the bridge.
If you plan to extend the coastal part of your walk, the guide to Sablón, Toró and the nearby coast introduces other beaches around Llanes.
Combining the waterfront with central Llanes
The harbour walk pairs naturally with Llanes’ historic quarter, the Basilica of Santa María and Paseo de San Pedro, all noted alongside the Cubos as places to see. Visit the breakwater and its viewpoints first, then continue into the town centre for its historic streets and basilica.
For a longer outing, follow the port-side route toward the lighthouse and Puerto Chico before returning to explore the centre. The waterfront and town sights can be combined in one visit without treating the Cubos as a stop apart from the rest of Llanes.
FAQs
Where are the Cubos de la Memoria?
They form part of the breakwater at Llanes fishing port. The port-side route and viewpoints at Paseo de San Pedro offer ways to see the painted blocks.
Who created the Cubos de la Memoria?
Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola created the work. Its three phases were completed between the first phase, which began in summer 2001, and the final phase in December 2006.
Can you see the Cubos from the lighthouse?
Yes. The lighthouse area along Paseo de San Antón is identified as a viewpoint of the south face of the Cubos.
What else can you combine with a visit?
The historic quarter, the Basilica of Santa María and Paseo de San Pedro are among the nearby Llanes sights associated with a visit to the Cubos.