Monumento Cervantes

The Miguel de Cervantes Monument sits enthroned on the Plaza de España in Madrid, honoring the famous Spanish writer. Construction was set in motion in 1905 by royal decree, with the aim of creating a fitting monument for the newly redesigned square in time for the 300th anniversary of the author's death. After a national competition won by the architect Rafael Martínez Zapatero and the sculptor Lorenzo Coullaut Valera, work did not begin until 1925. Because the original sculptor died before its completion, his son Federico Coullaut Valera took over and finished the project in the 1960s. In 2018, the ensemble was declared a cultural heritage site in recognition of its architectural and sculptural quality.

The monument, about 115 feet (35 meters) tall, is built around a massive obelisk of white stone framed by four pilasters. At its center sits the statue of Cervantes, carved from Italian marble, holding the book of his novel Don Quixote. His left hand is hidden beneath his cloak to conceal the scars from the Battle of Lepanto. In front of the obelisk stand the only bronze figures in the ensemble: Don Quixote on his horse Rocinante and his squire Sancho Panza on a donkey. They are flanked by two more stone statues, each about 10 feet (3 meters) tall, which show the same person in two guises. On one side sits the idealized Princess Dulcinea del Toboso, on the other the simple peasant woman Aldonza Lorenzo. This contrast between idealism and reality, symbolized by their different clothing and posture, embodies the heart of the work.

The top of the monument symbolizes the universal significance of the novel. Five seated female figures representing the continents read from books around a globe, underscoring the worldwide spread of the Spanish language. On the back is a monumental wall fountain bearing the coats of arms of the Spanish-speaking nations. Allegorical sculptures such as "Literature," "Mysticism," and "Military Valor" adorn the rear wall, while sculpture groups on the sides depict scenes from other works by Cervantes. The square itself is planted with olive trees, a tribute to the landscape of La Mancha.