Spaniards Monument, Buenos Aires

The Spaniards Monument is a prominent symbol of the historical ties between Argentina and Spain and one of Palermo’s most imposing landmarks. It was conceived as a gift from the Spanish community to commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution of 1810, which marked the beginning of Argentina’s independence process. A design competition was held, and the winning proposal came from Spanish sculptor Agustín Querol. The project, however, was beset by misfortune: Querol died shortly after work began, as did his successor, Cipriano Folgueras, and in 1916 the Spanish ship carrying the monument’s bronze and marble elements sank off the coast of Brazil. After years of delays, the monument was finally completed and inaugurated in 1927, with the Count of Amalfi symbolically delivering it on behalf of the Spanish king to Argentina’s president.

Rising to a height of 24.5 meters, the monument is made of brass and Carrara marble and stands within a shallow pool accented by fountains. At its center is a towering allegorical figure of Liberty set on a massive pedestal. A large sculpted frieze runs along the base, while surrounding bronze figures represent the Argentine Constitution and the country’s four historic regions: the Andes, the River Plate, the Pampas, and the Chaco.

The monument’s open setting near Palermo’s parks makes it an easy stop, and the late afternoon light is especially worth seeing, as it highlights the marble surfaces and sculptural details.