Equestrian statue of José de San Martín, Bronze equestrian statue in Plaza San Martín, Lima District, Peru

The Monument to General José de San Martín is a bronze equestrian statue by Mariano Benlliure on a granite pedestal, rising 16 metres in total. San Martín rides his tall Arab horse through the Andes, thoughtful rather than warlike: the horse's front legs push forward while its hindquarters hold back. Below, a draped female allegory of Peru raises a wreath toward the inscription "La Nación al General José de San Martín".

The monument was unveiled in 1921 to mark the centennial of Peru's independence declaration. It commemorates the general who led military campaigns that freed multiple South American nations from Spanish colonial rule.

The statue honors a military leader whose role in Peru's break from Spanish rule remains central to how Peruvians understand their national story. Visitors walking through the plaza can see how the city chooses to remember this period through public monuments.

The plaza is centrally located in Lima and easily reached on foot from the Historic Center, situated at a main intersection with clear visibility. The site is accessible during daylight hours and is regularly crossed by pedestrians moving through the city.

The horse's stance is deliberately contradictory: its front legs push forward while its hindquarters hold back. Benlliure, known for his knowledge of horses, likely meant this to match San Martín's reflective mood as he crossed the Andes. The female figure below holds a wreath and wears a small llama on her crown.