The Monument to Columbus (Spanish: Monumento a Colón) is a monument in Madrid, Spain. It lies on the namesake square, the Plaza de Colón. The basement of the monument is a Gothic revival work by Arturo Mélida while the topping statue is a work by Jerónimo Suñol.
Monumento a Colón | |
![]() | |
Coordinates | 40.425207°N 3.690465°W / 40.425207; -3.690465 |
---|---|
Location | Plaza de Colón, Madrid, Spain |
Designer | Basement: Arturo Mélida [es] Statue: Jerónimo Suñol |
Height | Basement: 17 m Statue: 3.30 m |
Dedicated to | Christopher Columbus |
The original idea to create a national monument to commemorate Christopher Columbus was promoted by Isabella II in 1864, yet the 1868 Glorious Revolution aborted the project.[1] Later in time, the idea was resumed as the project could serve as commemoration of the upcoming marriage between Alfonso XII and María de las Mercedes.[2] A public contest for the project took place in 1877, and the winner was Arturo Mélida.[3] Following the scrapping of an earlier draft,[3] the 17-metre high basement was built from 1881 to 1885.[4] It was intended to be inaugurated on 4 January 1886, yet the death of the monarch aborted the event.[4]
The 3.30 m high statue, a work in Carrara marble by Jerónimo Suñol featuring Columbus holding a flag of Castile, was delivered to the Ayuntamiento de Madrid in 1892.[5]
The monument was dismantled in 1976 and moved a year later to a nearby location in the Jardines del Descubrimiento [es].[6] It returned to its original location in 2009, in the context of the renovation of the Prado–Recoletos axis.[7]