Monument to José Ignacio Rivero, Stele in Parque del Oeste, Moncloa-Aravaca, Madrid, Spain
The Monument à José Ignacio Rivero is a stone stele in the Parque del Oeste, in the Moncloa-Aravaca district of Madrid. It shows a standing figure set against a curved wall of white stone panels decorated with a glass mosaic depicting Cuban scenes.
The monument was inaugurated in 1954, promoted by writer and journalist Víctor de la Serna, who wanted to honor Rivero after his death in Havana in 1944. It was designed by architect Julio Cano Lasso and pays tribute to the director of Diario de la Marina, one of the most read Spanish-language newspapers of that era.
The mosaic behind Rivero's figure shows colorful scenes from Cuba, made from small glass tiles set into a curved stone panel. This decorative style was common in the 1950s for building entrances and shops, which makes it an unusual choice for a public tribute.
The stele sits on a hillside in the Parque del Oeste and is reached by two curved pathways lined with low stone walls and steps. It is easy to approach from below, which gives the best view of the mosaic against the surrounding trees.
The mosaic still shows Rivero's face today, though some glass tiles are missing from the left arm. These gaps give the work an accidental fragility that quietly suits its tucked-away spot in the park.
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