A la Hispanidad

Monument to Hispanidad stands in Madrid, right in front of the Museo de América on the Ciudad Universitaria campus. It's the kind of piece visitors often walk past on their way into the museum, but it's worth a few minutes on its own — the story behind it says a lot about 20th-century Spain.

What does the monument show?

The sculpture depicts a Spanish horseman helping an indigenous woman rise from the ground, a figure meant to represent the Americas. Sculptor Agustín de la Herrán Matorras designed the piece as an allegory of "the meeting of two civilizations," a theme that framed Spain's historic ties to Latin America. One unusual detail sets it apart from most Madrid monuments: the main form is carved from the trunk of an old holm oak rather than cast in bronze or cut from stone.

What's the historical background?

The monument was unveiled on June 5, 1971, during the Francoist regime. Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón — later King Juan Carlos I — attended the inauguration ceremony. It was one piece in a broader Madrid initiative of the period, which used public monuments to project a narrative of Ibero-American cooperation. Around the same time, the city erected similar tributes to figures such as Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa. Today the piece draws a more critical eye: several commentators have described its imagery as outdated, and some readings even frame it as evoking abduction rather than a peaceful "meeting" — a useful entry point for anyone interested in how public art ages alongside shifting historical perspective.

How do you get there?

The monument sits on the Ciudad Universitaria campus in western Madrid, right beside the Museo de América. The easiest way in is by metro: get off at Ciudad Universitaria station (Line 6) and walk a few minutes through the university grounds. For anyone visiting the museum, the monument is a natural stop right at the entrance, before or after going inside.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The Museo de América, right behind the monument, holds one of Europe's most significant collections of pre-Columbian and colonial-era art and artifacts from Latin America. The wider Ciudad Universitaria campus is worth a wander too — several of its buildings date to the interwar period and still carry visible scars from the Spanish Civil War.

When's the best time to visit?

The monument stands in an open, public part of the campus, so there's no opening schedule or ticket required — you can see it any time. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be the most pleasant time to walk the area, when the campus is quieter and the light on the sculpture is more flattering. If you're pairing the visit with the museum itself, check its opening hours first, since those will really set the shape of your visit.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the monument? No, it stands in a public part of the campus and can be viewed for free at any time.

Who created the monument? Spanish sculptor Agustín de la Herrán Matorras designed it; it was unveiled in 1971.

What material is the monument made of? The main figure is carved from the trunk of an old holm oak, which is unusual compared with the bronze or stone typically used for Madrid's monuments.

Should I combine this with a visit to the Museo de América? Yes — the monument stands directly in front of the museum entrance, making it an easy add-on to a single trip to Ciudad Universitaria.