The Fiel Contraste

The Fiel Contraste is a sculptural group on Alhondiga Street in Pontevedra, featuring a central bronze figure holding scales surrounded by four steel silhouettes. Created in 2010 by Ramon Conde, the ensemble uses contrasting materials to form a cohesive composition that depicts market activity.

This location was once where medieval officials checked weights and measures of goods sold at the market. The role of such inspectors declined when the Bourbon period brought standardized measurements across the region.

The sculptural group stands where the medieval Alhondiga grain market once served the city, bringing that historical trade to mind through its arrangement. The surrounding steel figures depict merchants and vendors who were part of daily commerce in this once-important trading hub.

The sculptural group is located on a public street near City Hall and is accessible at any time. It serves as a good starting point for exploring the medieval history of this part of the city.

The four steel silhouettes are deliberately flat, contrasting sharply with the solid three-dimensional bronze figure at the center. This material and form contrast symbolizes the distinction between the official weight inspector and the market vendors he supervised.

Location: Pontevedra

Inception: April 30, 2010

Creator: Ramón Conde

Elevation above the sea: 14 m

Height: 1.93 m

Made from material: bronze, weathering steel

Address: Rúa Alhóndiga

GPS coordinates: 42.43211,-8.64667

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:11