Monumento a Manolete, statue in Córdoba, Spain
The Monumento a Manolete is a sculptural group in the Plaza del Conde de Priego, in the Santa Marina district of Córdoba. The sculptor Manuel Álvarez Laviada designed it with the architect Luis Moya, and it was unveiled on 8 May 1956. The figure of the bullfighter stands on a stone base, with bronze elements.
The statue was inaugurated in 1956 to honor Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez, who launched his career in 1939 at a renowned bullring. The monument was built long after the torero's peak years, marking his lasting influence on the history of the sport.
The monument honors a legendary bullfighter and reflects the city's deep connection to this traditional art form. The sculpture sits in a central plaza and serves as a marker of local pride and heritage for residents and visitors alike.
The monument stands in Plaza del Conde de Priego, in the Santa Marina district north of the old town, not on a central city square. The square is small and reached on foot through narrow streets; the bronze figure and limestone base can be circled to view them from several sides.
The monument was funded by a bullfight held on 21 October 1951 at the Plaza de Toros de Los Tejares, which raised 800,000 pesetas. The Mexican bullfighter Carlos Arruza led the lineup, with bulls donated by several ganaderías and the Córdoba matador José María Martorell taking part. The project by sculptor Manuel Álvarez Laviada and architect Luis Moya was chosen in a municipal competition judged with the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.
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