The Árboles de la Vida (Trees of Life) are towering, artistic installations scattered throughout Managua, Nicaragua’s capital city. Designed as metallic sculptures, each tree stands approximately 10 to 20 meters high, made of steel with intricately twisting branches and leaves. They are painted in vibrant colors, often yellow, red, blue, or green, and are equipped with hundreds of LED lights, making them glow vividly at night.
These trees are part of a broader urban art initiative championed by Rosario Murillo, the country’s First Lady, who described them as symbols of growth, resilience, and spirituality. Inspired by Gustav Klimt’s painting Tree of Life, the structures carry a modern, stylized look with swirling patterns that evoke a sense of motion and life.
The trees are strategically located along main boulevards, like Avenida Bolívar, and in significant public spaces, such as plazas near the waterfront or the historic district. At night, the illuminated trees create an almost surreal environment, contrasting sharply with the surrounding urban landscape. They are often paired with other public decorations, such as murals, fountains, and seasonal displays.
