Victoria Memorial, Monument near Buckingham Palace, City of Westminster, United Kingdom
The Victoria Memorial is a Beaux-Arts monument made of white marble, standing in front of Buckingham Palace in the City of Westminster. The structure features a central column with bronze sculptures representing different virtues, set on a large base with water basins and decorative figures along the sides.
Construction began in 1906 following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, when architect Aston Webb and sculptor Thomas Brock took on the design. The unveiling occurred in 1911 by King George V, ten years after the queen's passing.
The name honors Queen Victoria, whose bronze statue sits on the front face, surrounded by allegorical figures. The site now serves as a popular meeting point for tourists taking photos in front of the palace and resting on the steps.
Access is possible around the clock since the monument stands in public space and is free to view. The nearest tube stations are St James's Park and Green Park, both within a few minutes' walk.
The gilded figure at the top represents Victory and was cast from captured cannons of colonial wars. The monument weighs a total of about 2,300 tons and was partly made from Carrara marble, the same material used for Michelangelo's sculptures.
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