Monument to Concepción Arenal (Madrid) facts for kids
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Coordinates | 40°25′58″N 3°43′31″W / 40.432862°N 3.72515°W |
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Location | Parque del Oeste, Madrid, Spain |
Designer | José María Palma |
Material | Limestone, granite, bronze |
Opening date | 29 May 1934 |
Dedicated to | Concepción Arenal |
The Monument to Concepción Arenal is a special statue located in Madrid, Spain. You can find it in the beautiful Parque del Oeste park. This monument honors Concepción Arenal, who was a very important Spanish writer and thinker in the 1800s. She was a pioneer for women's rights and justice.
Contents
About Concepción Arenal
Concepción Arenal (1820–1893) was an amazing woman who fought for fairness and equality. She was a jurist, which means she studied and worked with laws. She also wrote a lot about social issues and was one of the first people to speak up for women's rights in Spain. She believed in education and justice for everyone.
History of the Monument
How the Monument Was Made
The Monument to Concepción Arenal was created by a talented sculptor named José María Palma Burgos. People from all over helped pay for it. They wanted to honor Concepción Arenal and her important work.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument is made from different materials. It has a base of strong granite. On top of this base, there is a statue of Concepción Arenal herself. She is seated and made of limestone, wearing a special robe like a judge.
Next to her, on her right side, there is a bronze statue representing Peace. On her left side, there are stone figures that stand for Liberty, Justice, and Forgiveness. These figures show the important ideas Concepción Arenal believed in.
At the bottom of the monument, there is a special message carved into the stone. It says: "Concepción Arenal. She loved science. She comforted pain." This short sentence tells us a lot about her life and what she cared about.
The Unveiling Ceremony
The monument was officially shown to the public on May 29, 1934. Many important people attended the event. The President of the Republic, Niceto Alcalá Zamora, was there. The Mayor of Madrid, Pedro Rico, also came.
Many famous women were present too, like the writers Concha Espina and Pilar Millán Astray. Several speakers talked about Concepción Arenal's legacy. They highlighted her contributions to society and justice.
Restoration and New Location
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), the monument was damaged. After the war ended, José María Palma, the original sculptor, helped fix it. He worked with an architect named Pedro Muguruza to restore it.
In 1995, the monument was moved to a new spot within the Parque del Oeste. It is now located near the Paseo Moret, where many people can visit and admire it.
See also
In Spanish: Monumento a Concepción Arenal (Madrid) para niños