Monument to Don Quixote in Madrid
Monument to Don Quixote in Madrid is an expressive monument dedicated to the protagonist of the world-famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes. The figures of Don Quixote and his faithful servant Sancho Panza are part of a large monument erected in honor of the Spanish writer.
History of the Don Quixote monument
In 1915, the country held a competition for the best monument to Cervantes. Its winners were recognized as the famous architect Rafael Martinez Zapatera and sculptor Lorenzo Cullo-Valera. In 1920, an organizing committee appeared, the purpose of which was to raise money for the erection of the monument. It is noteworthy that fundraising did not only take place among Spaniards – all Spanish-speaking countries of the world contributed to the Madrid monument.
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Five years later, the construction of a large-scale monument began in the center of Madrid. In addition to the authors of the monument, the architect Petro Muguruso worked on it. Thanks to him, the decor of the monument was somewhat simplified. The grand opening of the monument to Cervantes took place in 1929. Today, this monument is a real decoration of the Spanish capital and a place near which residents and tourists like to take pictures.
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Most of all, travelers are attracted by the colorful figures of the main characters of the novel, located at the base of the stone stele. The equestrian statues of the knight and his servant are beautifully reflected in the water surface of the rectangular pool. Don Quixote is slightly raised in the saddle and holds a long spear in his left hand. With his right hand raised, he calls to his servant to set off.
.In addition to Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, two statues of Dulcinea can be seen on the Cervantes monument. They were added in the 1950s by the sculptor Lorenzo Cullo-Valera’s son Federico. On the left, not far from the figure of Don Quixote, Dulcinea appears exquisitely delicate and refined, as she appeared to the knight in his dreams. On the right, the lady of the knight’s heart is depicted as a simple villager, which she really was. So the sculptor tried to present to the audience allegories of Reality and Fiction, which were so skillfully used by the talented writer.
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What the monument looks like
The main part of the monument is occupied by a tiered stone stele. Its upper part is decorated with a large globe, on which the five continents are mapped. This is a symbol of the fact that the Spanish language appeared in one part of the world and managed to spread throughout the world. The fountain at the Don Quixote monument in Madrid is decorated with the coats of arms of the countries whose inhabitants speak Spanish. Curiously, the Madrid residents themselves call the tall stele a “giraffe” for its characteristic shape.
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On one side of the monument is a statue of the wife of King Charles V – Isabella of Portugal, and on the other – the figure of Cervantes himself with a book in his hand. In front of the writer, at the foot of the stone base, are bronze statues of the main characters of the novel – Don Quixote of La Mancha and his servant. As the plot of the work suggests, the knight rides an old horse, and Sancho Panza rides a donkey.
.How to get there
The Don Quixote Monument in Madrid is located in the center of the city, in the spacious Plaza de España, next to the Royal Palace. Most tourists get to it by subway – you need to go to the station “Plaza de España”. In addition, city buses No. 3, 46, 75, 148 and C2 stop near the monument.
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