Monument to Philip IV of Spain

The bronze statue represents King Philip IV on horseback, resting on the rear legs with additional support from the horse's tail.

Pietro Tacca created the sculpture in Florence during 1640, following designs by Diego Velázquez and receiving technical advice from Galileo Galilei.

The monument features two marble bas-reliefs at its base, including one depicting Philip IV presenting the Cross of Santiago to Velázquez.

The statue stands at the center of Plaza de Oriente, surrounded by gardens and offering direct views of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

The structure weighs nine tons and employs variable bronze thickness, with thinner material at the horse's head and solid sections in the rear quarters.

Location: Madrid

Inception: 1640

Creator: Pietro Tacca, Francisco Bellver y Collazos, Francisco Elías Vallejo, Rodolfo García-Pablos, Fernando Gutiérrez, Jaime Lois, Manuel Muñoz Monasterio, Juan de Ribera Piferrer, Ferdinando Tacca, Juan Merlo Fransoy, José Tomás

Official opening: November 17, 1843

Address: Plaza Oriente 28013

GPS coordinates: 40.41854,-3.71224

Latest update: May 11, 2025 02:10