Gaze upon the Princesa Licarayén Sculpture. Its delicate steel form seems to dance in the wind. This isn’t just a statue. It’s a portal to a legend. A Mapuche legend. The Princesa Licarayén Sculpture stands proudly on La Puntilla in Puerto Varas. It depicts a princess from a Mapuche tale. A tale of volcanoes and sacrifice.
The story speaks of the volcanoes Osorno and Calbuco. These majestic peaks loomed over ancient Huilliche tribes. Their princess Licarayén was renowned for her beauty and purity. She was betrothed to the brave toqui Quitralpi. Their love story was destined for springtime celebrations. But a jealous spirit Peripillán resided within Osorno. His rage manifested as fiery eruptions and earth-shattering tremors.
The Huilliche sought a solution. An elder Machi appeared. She declared a sacrifice was needed to appease Peripillán. The most beautiful maiden. Licarayén’s beauty. The purest heart. She was chosen to save her people.
Licarayén accepted her fate. She asked only that Quitralpi prepare her deathbed. She requested no weapons. Only Quitralpi’s touch upon her heart. The next dawn saw Licarayén amidst fragrant flowers. Quitralpi with tears in his eyes extracted her heart. It was carried to Pichi Juan.
A condor descended. It consumed the heart. It then carried a canelo branch. This branch was dropped into Osorno’s crater. Snow blanketed the volcano. Quitralpi unable to bear his loss ended his own life.
The legend says Licarayén’s sacrifice calmed the volcanoes. The legend says the flowers on her deathbed became a beautiful palace. The Princesa Licarayén Sculpture is a testament to this tale. A tribute to a princess. A symbol of sacrifice. A symbol of love. Remember her story as you look out across the lake. Feel the legacy of the Mapuche people. This sculpture is more than steel. It’s a heart. It’s a memory. It’s a legend.