Considering the quiet park around us, the Monumento al Mariscal Santa Cruz Calahumana stands as a tribute to a man of two worlds. Inaugurated on March 27 1985 this monument honors Andrés de Santa Cruz Calahumana. He was a complex figure.
Let’s delve into the story of this monument. It sits in Avenida de Séneca number 118 in Parque del Oeste. The monument is more than just a statue. It represents a bridge between Spain and the Americas.
Andrés de Santa Cruz Calahumana was a man of many roles. He served as a coronel in the Spanish army until 1820. Then he joined the forces of Sucre and Bolívar. He fought against the very army he once served. He became president of both Peru and Bolivia. He even championed a Peru-Bolivian Confederation. His vision was integrating American nations.
The Monumento al Mariscal Santa Cruz Calahumana has several notable features. The pedestal is made of granite. It features four limestone plaques. Look closely at the right plaque. It displays the coat of arms of Spain in bas-relief. The left plaque shows Bolivia’s coat of arms.
The front plaque bears an inscription. It reads “A / ANDRÉS DE SANTA CRUZ / CALAHUMANA / 1792 – 1865 / GRAN MARISCAL DE ZEPITA / PRESIDENTE DE BOLIVIA / SUPREMO PROTECTOR / DE LA CONFEDERACIÓN / PERU BOLIVIANA / Y / PALADÍN DE LA / INTEGRACIÓN AMERICANA.” This inscription highlights his key roles and vision.
The plaque on the back reveals more about the monument’s creation. It states that the Madrid City Council and the Bolivian Embassy in Spain erected this monument. They did so on March 27 1985. It also acknowledges the contributions of various organizations. These include the Organizing Committee the Ibero-American Cooperation Institute and the Bolivian Consular Corps. Friends from abroad and Bolivians also contributed.
The bronze statue itself measures 1.70 x 0.50 x 0.90 meters. The pedestal’s dimensions are 2.00 x 0.80 x 0.80 meters. Notice the signature “de Santiago” incised on the statue’s base. The area around the monument is paved with granite cobblestones. There are granite steps at the rear. This leads to a path that extends in front of the monument.
José María Sanz García documented the monument in his 1987 book. Miguel Álvarez Rodríguez also mentioned it in his 2003 guide. Joaquín Roldán Pascual discussed it in “Monumentos y lápidas de nueva creación.”
So the Monumento al Mariscal Santa Cruz Calahumana serves as a reminder. It embodies a shared history. It also embodies the vision of a unified America.