Wednesday, January 13, 2016. In the Latin country Mexicoit’s found the mysterious and macabre “Island of the Dolls”; located in the channels of Xochimilco where you can see gloomy broken and deteriorated dolls, with various styles and infinities of colors around the entire Island. Julian Santana, was the former owner of the area for more than 50 years, and is responsible for this crazy situation; since he believed that the dolls protected him from the spirit of a drowned young woman years ago.
The legend of such a curious place tells of a girl who drowned among the lilies of the canal, and her body was found on the shores of Santana Island. From that moment, he began to experience many situations for which he could not find any explanation; Well, he heard the voices of a woman, he felt footsteps, objects moved him; in great fear of his own home, he came up with the idea of placing dolls that he had found in the trash or in the channels of Cuemanco, to take away the soul of the young lady.
The chinampa -as the Islands are locally called-, became known in the fifties; time in which Julián hung innumerable dolls for his protection and preached the Bible frequently in the Barrio de la Asunción, until he was expelled from the sector by his locals. As time passed, the visitors who passed near the Island; they began to be intrigued to see dolls everywhere, but the place had not yet become a tourist site; until Santana saw the curiosity of the people, and was allowing the entrance of the young people to the «Island of the Dolls».
Since then, many visitors have come who gave him a doll as a token of gratitude; increasing more and more Julián’s collection, and multiplying the protection against the evil spirits that stalked him. On the other hand, dolls have been considered a good luck charm; because the locals affirmed that they have helped to improve their crops. Nevertheless, Santana, died in the same way and in the same place as the young woman in 2001.
Currently, the Island still has its thousands of dolls and a small museum where you can see some articles, such as local newspapers about its history and Julián Santana. Also, there is the existence of three rooms; but only one seems to have been used as a bedroom, being there the first doll that Santana had collected with the name of agustinite; for being found on August 28, the day of Saint Augustine.
Many visitors have placed offerings around the doll, so that it performs some miracle or fills them with blessings; others have preferred to change his clothes and maintain him as a form of worship. The amazing «Island of the Dolls» is located an hour and a half from Cuemanco Pier.