Monumento a Bernardo O'Higgins, Bronze equestrian statue in Plaza de la Ciudadanía, Santiago, Chile.
The Monumento a Bernardo O'Higgins is a bronze equestrian statue standing on a marble and granite pedestal in the Plaza de la Ciudadanía in front of La Moneda Palace. It depicts the leader of Chilean independence mounted on horseback, riding over a fallen Spanish royalist soldier from the Battle of Rancagua.
French sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse created this memorial and it was inaugurated on May 19, 1872, during Federico Errázuriz Zañartu's presidency. Later, in 1978, the structure was temporarily relocated to house O'Higgins's remains in an underground crypt.
The four marble relief panels on the pedestal show important moments from O'Higgins's life and tell visual stories of his military achievements. These carvings give visitors a sense of what made him significant to the nation.
The monument stands directly in front of La Moneda Palace and is easily reached on foot, making it a natural stopping point for visitors. It is freely accessible and serves throughout the year as a location for national ceremonies and patriotic events.
The monument was relocated in 1978 not simply moved but transformed to house an underground crypt containing the leader's remains beneath the surface. This hidden component connects the visible equestrian statue above with a memorial space hidden beneath the plaza.
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