Think of Queen Isabel offering her jewels. She funded Christopher Columbus’s trip. Now look up at the Cristobal Colon Statue. This monument commemorates Cristobal Colon. It celebrates Spain’s maritime heritage. It recognizes Spain’s role in world history.
The Cristobal Colon Statue stands tall in Plaza de Colon. The plaza is at the meeting point of three districts. These are Chamberi Centro and Salamanca. The Cristobal Colon Statue reaches 17 meters high. It is a collaborative creation. Notable artists and architects worked on it in the late 19th century.
Arturo Melida designed the base. Jeronimo Suñol sculpted the marble statue of Columbus. The Cristobal Colon Statue features an intricate base. The base supports an octagonal pillar. The pillar is carved from Novelda stone.
The statue of Christopher Columbus is three meters high. It is carved from white Italian marble. Columbus holds a flag of Castile. The flag rests on a terrestrial globe. Rope wraps around the globe. It looks like a ship bollard. Columbus’s left arm is held out humbly.
The Cristobal Colon Statue was originally planned for King Alfonso XII’s marriage. He married Maria de las Mercedes de Orleans in 1878. A competition was held in 1877. Arturo Melida won. Suñol’s statue was not part of Melida’s original design.
The Cristobal Colon Statue was scheduled to be unveiled on January 4 1886. This was the anniversary of Columbus’s return from America. Sadly King Alfonso XII died of tuberculosis in 1885. He was only 27 years old. The unveiling was postponed. It finally happened on October 12 1892. There was no ceremony. The date marked the fourth centenary of Columbus’s discovery of America.
The base of the Cristobal Colon Statue has four reliefs. The west side shows Queen Isabel offering her jewels. She is helping to fund Columbus’s trip. The south side shows the Virgin of Pillar. She is between two angels. The crew’s names are inscribed below. The east side shows Columbus presenting his project to Diego de Deza. The north side features a terrestrial globe. It reads TO CASTILLA YA LEON NUEVO MUNDO DIO COLON.
In 1973 the Cristobal Colon Statue was moved. It was placed to the right of Discovery Gardens. After remodeling in 2009 it returned to its original location. It now stands in the center of the Paseo de la Castellana roundabout.
Since 2001 the Plaza de Colon has been home to Spain’s largest flag. It measures 14 meters by 21 meters. The flag flies from a 50-meter flagpole.
Visiting the Cristobal Colon Statue offers a rich cultural experience. The Jardines del Descubrimiento surround the monument. They offer a peaceful place for reflection. The gardens were once the site of the Royal Mint.
The Cristobal Colon Statue stands as a testament to Spain’s maritime history. It celebrates the age of exploration. It honors the enduring legacy of Columbus’s voyages. Take a moment to appreciate this iconic landmark. It connects Madrid to a pivotal moment in world history.