Daoiz and Velarde, War memorial near Alcázar of Segovia, Spain
Daoiz and Velarde is a war memorial in Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia in Segovia, featuring two artillery officers wrapped in a national flag. An eagle gripping a rock sits at the base of this bronze and marble sculpture.
Sculptor Aniceto Marinas created this memorial to honor two artillery officers who fought against French forces during the 1808 uprising. Their resistance marked a turning point in Spain's opposition to Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.
The monument depicts the struggle at Monteleón barracks and symbolizes Madrid's resistance against French occupation. Visitors can understand the story of this defense through the carved reliefs integrated into the memorial's surface.
The memorial is located on a central plaza near the Alcázar and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should come during daylight hours to clearly see the details of the bronze and marble figures and the carved reliefs.
The memorial brings together three different materials - bronze figures, Carrara marble, and stone - that create a unified artistic composition. This material combination gives the monument visual depth and a distinctive character that sets it apart from other Spanish memorials of its era.
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