Monument to Isabella the Catholic (Granada) facts for kids
| Isabel la Católica | |
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| Coordinates | 37°10′32″N 3°35′51″W / 37.175649°N 3.597444°W |
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| Location | Plaza de Isabel la Católica, Granada, Spain |
| Designer | Mariano Benlliure |
| Material | Bronze, stone |
| Opening date | 2 November 1892 |
| Dedicated to | Isabella I of Castile, Christopher Columbus, Columbian exploration of the Americas |
The Monument to Isabella the Catholic is a famous statue in Granada, Spain. It is also known as the Monument to Isabella the Catholic and Columbus. This beautiful bronze sculpture was created by Mariano Benlliure. It shows a special meeting between Isabella I of Castile, the Queen of Spain, and Christopher Columbus.
Building the Columbus Monument
Around 1890, many Spanish cities wanted to build monuments. They were getting ready to celebrate a big event. This was the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first trip to the Americas. It was a very important historical moment.
In Granada, an artist named Justo de Gandarias suggested a giant arch. This arch would have been almost 50 meters tall. It mixed different art styles, like Aztec and Renaissance. But the city of Granada did not have enough money for such a huge project. Even after asking the Spanish government for help, they still couldn't afford it.
So, the city held a competition for a new design. No one won the competition. Then, the Prime Minister, Cánovas del Castillo, stepped in. He personally chose Mariano Benlliure to design the monument.
What the Monument Shows
The main part of the monument is a bronze sculpture. It shows Christopher Columbus meeting Queen Isabella. The Queen is sitting on her throne. Columbus is bowing to her. This sculpture sits on top of a stone base. The base has steps leading up to the figures.
There was an idea to also include a figure of Boabdil. He was the last Nasrid ruler of Granada. But this idea was not used in the final design.
Unveiling the Monument
The 400th anniversary celebration did not go as planned. It was supposed to happen on October 12, 1892. But it was delayed. The Queen regent, Maria Christina of Austria, refused to travel to Granada. She was supposed to officially open the monument.
This made the people of Granada very angry. There were riots and fires in the city. People set fire to the decorations that had been put up for the Queen's visit. On November 2, 1892, the people of Granada decided to unveil the monument themselves. It was first placed in a spot called Paseo del Salón.
In 1962, the monument was moved. The city council of Granada decided to relocate it. Its new home is the Plaza de Isabel la Católica (Granada). This new location is close to where Queen Isabella is buried. Her tomb is in the Royal Chapel of Granada.
See also
- List of monuments and memorials to Christopher Columbus
