La Isla de la Munecas The Island of Dolls A short ways away from the bustling capital of Mexico City, within the winding canals of Xochimilco, seekers of the creepy just might find their holy grail: a small island populated entirely by decaying doll parts. “The Island of the Dolls” is the maggot-brain child of a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera who left his wife and family one day in the 1950s to settle a small piece of land on Teshuilo Lake.
He was an alcoholic outcast, and sought only peace and quiet and a place to grow vegetables. Instead, he lay awake at night listening to the voice of a little girl who had drowned there in the ’20s. She begged him for dolls to keep her company, and to ward off the ancient evil spirits that wandered this lonely place. So Don Julian brought her dolls.
Thousands of dolls. Some he pulled from the trash on his sojourns back to the real world, others he acquired from visitors who traded for his vegetables. One night in 2001, Don Juan finally gave in to her whispered entreaties for company and joined her by drowning himself in the same spot. By then his island had become infamous and remains a site of pilgrimage for lost souls and connoisseurs of the macabre.The Legend
It is said that a girl was found drowned in mysterious circumstances many years ago on this island and that the dolls are possessed by her spirit.
Local legend says that the dolls move their heads and arms and even opened their eyes.
Some witnesses claim they had heard the dolls whispering to each other, while others who were on a boat near the island said the dolls lured them to come down to the island.
Of course these witnesses are exaggerating and the island is in no way possessed but the truth is that the Isla de las Munecas is a very creepy place that marks the casual visitor.
But how do all these creepy dolls get on the island?
Island of the Dolls - The truth behind the legend
Don Julian Santana Barrera (pictures bellow) was the caretaker of the island. The story goes that Julian found a little girl drowned in mysterious circumstances while he was not able to save her life.
Shortly thereafter, Julian saw a floating doll near the canals. Most probably, the doll belonged to the girl.
He picked up the doll and hung it to a tree, as a way of showing respect and support the spirit of the girl.
Others question even the existence of the drowned girl. Reports conclude that Julian has made up the story about the girl in his solitude.Julian was apparently haunted by the spirit of the girl and started hanging more dolls in an attempt to please her spirit.
isla de las munecas dollHe soon realized the dolls themselves were possessed by the spirits of dead girls, and continued to collect creepy dolls hanging them over the entire island.
According to those close to him, it was as if Julian was driven by some unseen force that completely changed him.
Apparently he was very marked by the fact that he was not able to save the little girl’s life.
After 50 years of collecting dolls and hanging them on the island, Julian was found dead, drowned in the same spot where the girl did.
Island of the Dolls hanging aroundMany people on the island believe that Julian has joined the other spirits of the island.
The locals are very faithful that the Isla de las Munecas is a charmed place. After Julian’s death in 2001, it has become a tourist attraction, where visitors bring more dolls.
Since the death of Julian, the island has become very famous and has even been featured in many articles and even TV shows.
Although the action of Don Julian was innocent and even admirable, it ended up being portrayed as a real nightmarish destination.
Soulless eyes follow visitors as they visit the small island (which is actually a floating garden).
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