The Grotto
The Grotto
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
42 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
16
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9
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GSP_Mom
Fargo, ND561 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
This was made by an artist local to SA. Very nice sculpture. At night there are lights that illuminate the sculpture and apparently it’s a hang out for bats!! This particular area of the riverwalk is probably closer to the Pearl Brewery than the riverwalk loop in downtown. We ended up seeing this on the HOHO bus.
Written March 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wolfie_n
Dallas, TX390 contributions
Dec 2013 • Friends
The Grotto is an incredible cave-like sculpture designed by local faux bois artist Carlos Cortes along the newer portion of the River Walk. Parts of it can also be seen at street level. It is full of whimsy as well as symbolism, including both natural and cultural elements that are important to San Antonio. The more I looked, the more I saw in this complex construction, and I’m sure there were things that I missed. The walkway on one side of the river follows along the edge of and into the grotto. It can be accessed from the street level by a stairway that passes through a jaguar’s mouth. Inside the cavern, there is a waterfall pouring from beneath a giant face. There is another waterfall that flows over the top edge of the cavern into the river. Stalactites hang down, giving it the feel of a real cave. The cavern is meant to represent the caves and waters of the Edwards Aquifer, which provides water to this entire part of the state. The inclusion of seashells in the construction might seem puzzling at first since San Antonio is inland, but it once was beneath a large, shallow sea and fossil inclusions are common in Texas limestone. At one edge of The Grotto, high above the river at street level, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe is visible as a silhouette in the rock, with Juan Diego looking up at her. It took a little bit of looking to actually see the image after I was told it was there, since it is a little abstract, but I eventually saw it. It made me wonder what else was there that I wasn’t seeing. It is worth taking some time to explore this impressive part of the River Walk’s landscape.
Written January 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scarlett M
North Houston, TX31 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
Lots of people focus on the Riverwalk in the downtown area, but if you start at the Pearl and travel South, you see a lot of interesting art attractions. The artist behind the Grotto has other works around San Antonio (even at least one here in Houston at the zoo), that are super interesting. If you are a geocacher, there is a geocache hidden here. Which we haven't actually found yet. We love stopping at the grotto for a few minutes as we travel the Riverwalk.
Written September 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan O
Lisle, IL73 contributions
Apr 2019
We heard about the Grotto in a travel book of a must see, we hoped off the tour bus to check it out. We were glad we did! It is a cool piece of art on the river walk. There are multiple hidden face to find and areas to sit and enjoy nature.
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cesar H
Fort Worth, TX14 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Coming to this place while looking around the construction, isolated, lonely... it provides a sense of non worthy of a visit; however, as one walks down the stairs and start to see the rock shapes, waterfall sound and cool breeze, we were intrigued and were not disappointed when being inside. This is an open area with a small waterfall alongside the riverwalk close to the Art museum. We are so glad we came here. The construction occurring is to beautify the place. Definitely a must visit for pictures and calmness.
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samantha S
Austin, TX375 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
I went to this on a date thinking we could walk by the site real quick without realizing how far it actually is from anything. The walk was beautiful but disgustingly humid as the river gets in summertime, and there's hardly any place to stop to get water (definitely bring your own). If going, I suggest starting closer to the actual sculpture. This isn't a priority stop, but it is definitely something really cool to walk through.
Written July 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elders2012
Texarkana, TX51 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
a very pretty, quiet spot on the riverwalk. The bridge nearby has glowing fish hanging from it. A neat stop.
Written April 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
djfluth
Lufkin, TX539 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
While walking on the Riverwalk, we found ourselves in a delightful addition to the Riverwalk. We had no idea that this was here! Close to the Art Museum. Walking through the Grotto, we found a waterfall, beautiful molded stonework that looks like it had been there forever, and a sudden coolness as we stepped out of the sun. Next time, we plan to go there again!
Written October 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand3,692 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Substantial and amusing sculpture on the upper River Walk by local artist Carlos Cortez. Look into the centre of it to see a classical-looking head and there's also a nice shell-shape. Cortez must be one of the few artists in the world who uses the near-dead technique of fake wood made of concrete ('faux bois') and there's a couple of nice examples near the grotto - two lovely benches on the other side of the river and if you go across the bridge at this point a charming toadstool shaped tree with a roof on. Highly unusual and well worth a look.
Written April 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chinapjs
Washington DC, DC3,786 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
Keep your eyes open and stroll slowly along the Riverwalk because you'll see something interesting around every turn. This interesting and unusual sculpture that looks like a grotto, and an underground cavern is one of these attractions. Not far away is the F.I.S.H. Exhibit of large fish hanging from the road bridge over the river. Enjoy and look for more
Written March 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
medbl
Austin, TX17 contributions
Is it handicap accessible? Not wheelchair, but walks with a cane and very slow. Are there a lot of steps?
thanks.
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The Grotto (San Antonio) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about The Grotto
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The Grotto Information
Excellent Reviews | 17 |
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Very Good Reviews | 16 |
The Grotto Photos | 33 |