Columbus memorial

The Columbus Memorial stands in Maspalomas, part of the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana on Gran Canaria. Set on a roundabout at the junction of Avenida Touroperador Tui and Avenida Cristóbal Colón and ringed by tall cacti, the monument marks a brief but historically loaded stopover from the age of transatlantic exploration.

Why does Maspalomas have a monument to Columbus?

On 24 May 1502, Christopher Columbus put in at Maspalomas during his fourth and final voyage to the Americas. It was his last stop on Spanish territory before sailing on across the Atlantic — his crew used the halt to take on fresh water and firewood before continuing toward the New World. That single stopover is what the present-day monument commemorates.

What does the sculpture look like, and who made it?

The piece is titled "Agua y leña" (Water and Firewood), a direct reference to why Columbus's ships anchored in the bay in the first place. It was created by sculptor Máximo Riol. The composition shows a bronze figure of Columbus standing on a square stone slab that rests on a globe, the whole group raised on a tall, fluted stone column. The vertical design gives the memorial a strong visual presence on its roundabout, visible from a distance.

Where did the idea for the monument come from?

The push to commemorate Columbus's stop in Maspalomas dates back to 1981, when local cultural figure Néstor Álamo proposed to the town's mayor that the tribute be more than a modest figurine — he wanted a symbol that would properly reflect the historical weight of the event for the municipality. The monument was eventually unveiled in 2002, exactly five hundred years after the 1502 stopover it honors.

Has the monument survived unchanged?

Not entirely. Over the years the sculpture has suffered vandalism and required repair work. The local authorities in San Bartolomé de Tirajana have restored it to its original appearance, and the memorial once again stands complete on its roundabout, maintaining the look it had at its 2002 unveiling.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The Columbus Memorial sits right in the tourist heart of Maspalomas, a short distance from the well-known Maspalomas Lighthouse (Faro de Maspalomas) — a stone tower built in 1890, declared a site of cultural interest in 2005, and now open to visitors after renovation. Walking from the beachfront toward the town center, visitors typically pass the monument along the main avenues, making it an easy addition to a day that otherwise centers on the beach and the dunes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Columbus Memorial commemorate? It marks Christopher Columbus's stopover in Maspalomas on 24 May 1502, during his fourth voyage to the Americas, when his crew restocked water and firewood before crossing the Atlantic.

Who designed the sculpture? Spanish sculptor Máximo Riol created the piece, titled "Agua y leña" (Water and Firewood).

When was the monument built? It was unveiled in 2002, exactly five hundred years after the event it commemorates, though the idea for it was first proposed in 1981.

Where exactly is it located? It stands on a roundabout at the junction of Avenida Touroperador Tui and Avenida Cristóbal Colón in Maspalomas, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, surrounded by tall cacti and close to the Maspalomas Lighthouse.