Monument to Alfonso XII

Located near the large pond in El Retiro Park, one of the park's most visited areas, this sculptural and architectural ensemble pays homage to King Alfonso XII. Inaugurated by his son, Alfonso XIII, in 1922, the monument is inspired by those erected for Victor Emmanuel II in Rome and Wilhelm I in Berlin.

Designed by the Catalan architect José Grases Riera, the monument consists of a semicircular structure with a double colonnade of the Ionic order. The frieze of this colonnade features sculpted coats of arms of the various Spanish provinces of the time, along with scenes depicting the region's traditional trades. At its center stands a tower upon which rises the equestrian statue of the monarch. At its base, a staircase leads down to the edge of the pond. The equestrian statue, over 20 meters tall, was created by the sculptor Mariano Benlliure, author of great works such as the sculpture of Goya next to the Prado Museum, and some of the pieces that adorn the façade of the Metropolis Building on Gran Vía. The column on which it stands houses a viewpoint (accessible only by prior reservation as part of the Pasea Madrid program) from which you can admire the elegant Salamanca district, the Literary Quarter, and iconic buildings along Gran Vía.