El Obelisco (The Obelisk), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

The Obelisk is one of the most symbolic landmarks of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, standing prominently in the Constitution Square. Designed in 1955 by the Catalan architect Juan Margarit Serradell, with the collaboration of the Canarian Cayetano Guerra del Río, the monument was completed and inaugurated in 1957 as a new emblem of the city. Rising 25 meters high, the structure was built using volcanic lava extracted from a quarry in La Isleta, a humble yet lively neighborhood that crowns the city. Its placement in the square gave Las Palmas a striking focal point, and over time, the Obelisk has become both a cultural symbol and a point of reference in the urban landscape.

The plaza that houses the Obelisk holds deep historical and cultural significance. Since the adoption of Spain’s democratic Constitution in 1978, every December 6 the square hosts an annual offering ceremony to commemorate Constitution Day, with official tributes and public gatherings taking place in front of the monument. Its location, surrounded by elegant avenues and closely linked to the legacy of the Canarian poet Tomás Morales-whose name graces the adjacent boulevard-adds a poetic and intellectual aura to the site.