The Spanish Nobel

” I will call it La Florida” (Ponce De Leon)

Here at Gilcrest Park, in Punta Gorda, FL you will find a sculpture of Ponce De Leon near the Harbor. I took these pictures during my evening run. I have always looked at it, but never stopped to read about it. Knowing the story of Ponce De Leon, and his mission to find the fountain of youth, I thought a fountain would be a nice touch. This monument of Ponce De Leon was dedicated to the park on March 27, 2005.

This sculpture was donated by the Royal Order of Ponce De Leon Conquistadors. An organization dedicated to the preservation of the Spanish Heritage of Florida and in charlotte county.

This representational sculpture signifies how Florida got its name. Ponce De Leon was the first Spanish Explorer to discover Florida. In the search for new land and gold, he set off on a voyage through the Bahamas, heading toward Florida. When he first arrived, it was near St. Augustine. Then continuing his travels, he landed in Charlotte Harbor. This sculpture of Ponce himself is the reason we call the area in which we live “Florida.” He named our state Florida, because at the time of discovery, it was Easter. Which in Spanish culture means, flowery festival and is associated with the Easter season.

This sculpture of Ponce De Leon is considered to be a sculpture in the round. This is a freestanding piece and not attached to any background. Because this is three- dimensional, You can view this figure from any angle as there is space all around the sculpture. However, it is best to see it facing him to get the full effect. I feel this statue of Ponce De Leon holds extreme value in the city of Punta Gorda. It is in the perfect location, surrounded by beautiful greenery and water. This is considered part of our history, and it is an honor to have such a beautiful replica of Ponce De Leon at Gilcrest Park. This has a broad base but, I would say the actual sculpture of the body could be life-size. I know that this draws the attention of many people walking nearby. They take the time to take a closer look at the sculpture and read about its history. This would be especially beneficial to a tourist or someone new to the area.