Monumento a José Pedro Varela, Montevideo, Historic site and statue in central Montevideo, Uruguay.

Monumento a José Pedro Varela consists of a tall column bearing the national coat of arms at its top, with a marble sculptural group below in which a bronze statue of José Pedro Varela sits holding a pencil and a book. The group is an allegory of the educational process backed by legislation favouring equality among people. A bronze plaque beneath reads "A José Pedro Varela 1845 – 1879".

The monument was inaugurated in 1918 to commemorate an educator who fundamentally transformed the nation's public schooling during the 1800s. His reforms established the foundation for a school system open to all citizens regardless of background.

The monument honors an educator whose vision transformed public schooling across the country and made education accessible to all. The sculptural elements around the central figure still convey the importance of learning and equal opportunity in everyday life.

The monument stands on Bulevar Artigas between Avenida Brasil and Canelones, inside Plaza José Pedro Varela, a central area served by many bus routes. The plaza is flat and open, so you can walk around the sculpture and view it from several sides.

Spanish sculptor Miguel Blay created this work, which became one of his most celebrated commissions in South America. The combination of white marble with bronze detailing creates a visual contrast that catches the light in surprising ways throughout the day.