Monument to Alfonso XII facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°25′02″N 3°40′59″W / 40.41733°N 3.68306°W |
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| Location | Buen Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | José Grases Riera |
| Material | Marble and bronze |
| Length | 86 metres (282 ft) |
| Width | 58 metres (190 ft) |
| Height | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Opening date | 1922 |
The Monument to Alfonso XII is a huge and beautiful monument in Buen Retiro Park (also known as El Retiro) in Madrid, Spain. It stands proudly on the edge of a large artificial lake in the park's center. This impressive structure was built to honor King Alfonso XII of Spain.
Contents
Building a Royal Monument
How the Idea Started
In 1902, the Queen Mother Maria Christina of Austria wanted a special monument for her son, King Alfonso XII. She started a national competition to find the best design for this important project.
Choosing the Design
The winner of the design contest was an architect named José Grases Riera. His amazing idea included a grand colonnade (a row of columns) right next to the lake in El Retiro. The plan also featured many sculptures, including a large statue of the king riding a horse. All these parts would be made from beautiful bronze and marble.
Finishing the Project
Sadly, Grases Riera passed away in 1919 while the monument was still being built. Another architect, Teodoro Anasagasti, took over the project. He made sure to follow the original design. More than twenty different sculptors worked together to create all the statues and details. The money for the monument came from people all over Spain who donated to a special collection. The monument was officially opened on June 6, 1922. It became one of the first of many statues added to parks in Spain over the years.
What the Monument Looks Like
This impressive monument is 30 meters (about 98 feet) tall. It is 86 meters (about 282 feet) long and 58 meters (about 190 feet) wide.
The King's Statue
At the very center of the monument is a large statue of King Alfonso XII on horseback. This statue is made of bronze and was created by a famous sculptor named Mariano Benlliure in 1904.
Important Statues and Details
Around the main statue, you can find many other sculptures:
- Central Base Statues: On the main base of the monument are statues representing important ideas. These include "La Paz" (Peace) by Miquel Blay, "La Libertad" (Freedom) by Aniceto Marinas, and "El Progreso" (Progress) by Miguel Ángel Trilles.
- Bronze Reliefs: The pedestal also has three bronze reliefs, which are like carved pictures.
- Lions and Mermaids: Stairs lead down from the monument towards the lake. Here, you'll see four stone lions carved by Agapit Vallmitjana i Abarca and Pedro Estany. Underneath the pedestals, there are four bronze mermaids sculpted by Antonio Parera Saurina, Rafael Atché, Antonio Coll y Pi, and Antoni Alsina.
- More Lions: On each side of the paths leading to the monument's semicircle, there are two more lions. These were carved by Francisco Javier Escudero Lozano, Antonio Bofill, Eusebi Arnau, and Campmany.
- Army and Navy: At the sides of the main entrance to the colonnade, you'll find statues representing "El Ejército" (The Army) by José Montserrat and "La Marina" (The Navy) by Mateo Inurrria.
- Inside the Monument: Facing the lake from inside the monument, there are bronze sculptures representing different fields of knowledge and work:
- "Las Ciencias" (Sciences) by Manel Fuxà
- "La Agricultura" (Agriculture) by José Alcoverro
- "Las Artes" (The Arts) by Joaquín Bilbao
- "La Industria" (Industry) by Josep Clarà
- Friezes and Base: The detailed decorations on the friezes (carved bands) and the central base were done by Pedro Estany.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Alfonso XII (Madrid) para niños
