Elephant topiary, one of several in front of Iglesia de San Rafael in Zarcero, Central Highlands, Costa Rica.

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Zarcero, Central Highlands: Topiaries shaped like arches, monkeys, elephants, cats, a motorcycle, a bull ring, and so on have brought international fame to this small mountain town about an hour's drive northeast of San Jose. These topiaries, shaped from cypress bushes, fill the Parque Central (Parque Francisco Alvarado) in front of the town's main church, another thing of unique beauty in itself. The topiaries are the work of Evangelisto Blanco, the parque's gardener, a project that began more than 40 years ago. Today, these clever topiaries are known the world over and often compared to other unique art forms such as the works of Gaudi in Spain and Rodia in Los Angeles, California. They form a frame and entrance to the Iglesia de San Rafael, known as the pink and blue church.

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Size: 5128px × 3761px
Location: Zarcero, Central Highlands area of Costa Rica, Central America
Photo credit: © Carol Barrington / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bush, costa, cypress, elephant, rica, topiaries, topiary, zarcero