Monument to Miguel de Cervantes, Stone obelisk and sculptural group in Plaza de España, Madrid, Spain
The Monument to Miguel de Cervantes is a memorial with stone column and bronze figures on Plaza de España in Madrid. The stone column reaches roughly 34 m (112 ft) in height and is surrounded by several bronze sculptures depicting figures such as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
King Alfonso XIII commissioned the construction in 1915 to mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of the second part of Don Quixote. Completion took place in several building phases over the following decades.
The name honors writer Miguel de Cervantes, whose novel Don Quixote remains widely read across the world. Visitors today often see people sitting on the steps or taking photos in front of the bronze figures.
Plaza de España sits centrally in Madrid and can be reached through the metro station of the same name. The site is freely accessible and works well for a short stop during a city walk.
During renovation work in 2009, workers found a time capsule containing historical documents and objects. The contents related to Cervantes and the early construction years of the site.
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