Obelisk, Memorial obelisk in A Coruña, Spain.

The Obelisk dos Cantóns rises from the central plaza at a major street intersection in A Coruña's commercial core. It stands where traffic flows connect the old town to modern shopping areas.

The monument was built in 1895 to honour Aureliano Linares Rivas, a deputy, senator and minister from Santiago de Compostela during the regency of María Cristina. In 1893 the city council created an ad hoc committee that decided it should also serve a public function, with a clock and meteorological instruments. The foundation was paid for by the council and designed by municipal architect Antonio de Mesa, while the monument itself was funded by popular subscription, designed by master builder Gabriel Vitini Alonso and built by contractor José Escudero for 1,995 pesetas. In 1952 mayor Alfonso Molina had it raised because taller surrounding buildings had diminished it.

The obelisk serves residents as a central reference point and meeting spot in the city center. It anchors the intersection where different neighborhoods connect and residents navigate daily.

Located near multiple bus stops and parking facilities, the monument is easy to reach by public transport or car. Its central position makes it a natural stopping point when exploring the downtown area.

The monument is not a true obelisk but a commemorative column, as its own name acknowledges. Bronze plaques at its base record the city's geographic data and extreme weather records, a practical function built into the memorial from the start.