Monument to Antonio Maura facts for kids
The Monument to Antonio Maura is a special statue located in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It was created by a famous artist named Mariano Benlliure. This monument honors Antonio Maura, who was an important Spanish politician.
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| Coordinates | 39°34′16″N 2°38′56″E / 39.571238°N 2.648896°E |
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| Location | Plaça del Mercat, Palma, Spain |
| Designer | Mariano Benlliure |
| Material | Bronze, stone, marble |
| Opening date | 13 December 1929 |
| Dedicated to | Antonio Maura |
Contents
Building the Monument
The idea for the monument came from many people who wanted to honor Antonio Maura. They raised money for it through what was called a "popular subscription." This means many people donated small amounts of money to help pay for the statue.
The Artist's Design
The job of designing the monument was given to Mariano Benlliure. He was a very talented sculptor. He created a design that included a statue of Antonio Maura and another important figure.
What the Monument Looks Like
The main part of the monument is a bronze statue of Antonio Maura. He is shown standing tall, as if he is giving a speech. This is called an "oratorical attitude." The statue stands on top of a strong stone base.
Below Antonio Maura, there is another beautiful statue made of white marble. This statue represents Truth. It shows a figure pointing to a special message carved into the stone. The message says: "antonio maura igualó con la vida el pensamiento". This means "Antonio Maura lived his life according to his beliefs." It's a famous line from a poem by Andrés Fernández de Andrada.
Where and When It Was Unveiled
The monument was officially revealed to the public on 13 December 1929. It was placed in the Plaça del Mercat, a public square in Palma. This date was chosen because it was the fourth anniversary of Antonio Maura's death.
A Tree Incident
Many years later, on 11 November 2014, something unexpected happened. A large ficus tree growing nearby fell over. Sadly, it hit the statue and caused some damage.
Restoration and Return
After the accident, the statue was carefully taken away for repairs. Experts worked to fix the damage and make it look new again. About a year later, the restored statue was brought back to its place in the Plaça del Mercat. It stands there today for everyone to see and remember Antonio Maura.
