Hans Christian Andersen Memorial

The Hans Christian Andersen Memorial is a bronze-and-steel statue of the Danish writer standing in Plaza de la Marina, right at the heart of Malaga's seafront promenade. Andersen is shown seated on a bench, wearing his signature top hat, with a duck peeking out of his bag — a quiet nod to his best-known fairy tale, "The Ugly Duckling." The bench beside the figure is part of the design, letting visitors sit next to the writer for a photo.

Why is there an Andersen memorial in Malaga?

Hans Christian Andersen visited Malaga in October 1862 during his travels through Spain, and the city left a lasting impression on him — its light, its sea, and the warmth of its people. In his travel book "A Visit to Spain" (I Spanien), he wrote that in no other Spanish city had he felt as happy and comfortable as in Malaga. That line later became the reason the city chose to honor him with a monument decades after his visit.

Who made the statue, and when was it unveiled?

The sculpture was created by Spanish artist José María Córdoba. It was commissioned and funded by the Danish Royal Family as a gesture of remembrance for the writer's stay in the city. The memorial was unveiled on 14 June 2005 by Princess Benedikte of Denmark, marking the bicentenary of Andersen's birth (he was born in Odense in 1805). The ceremony underlined the cultural ties between Denmark and Andalusia that grew out of Andersen's own travel writing.

What does the statue show, and where does Andersen look?

The figure captures Andersen in a calm, reflective pose, seated as though resting after a long journey, his hat set firmly on his head. He faces toward Alameda Principal, Malaga's main avenue, where he stayed at a hotel during his visit. That orientation is deliberate — the memorial was designed to keep a visual link between the writer's resting spot and the place where he actually lodged in the city.

Where exactly is the memorial located?

Plaza de la Marina sits where Malaga's historic center meets the port, next to Paseo del Parque and just steps from Alameda Principal. It's one of the busiest crossing points in the city, on the route between the cathedral or the Alcazaba and the harbor or beach. That location has made the Andersen statue a natural, if slightly unexpected, stop on the way through central Malaga.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sit on the bench with the statue? Yes — the bench is an integral part of the memorial and open to anyone, which is one reason it's a popular photo spot.

Why does Andersen's bag have a duck in it? It references his fairy tale "The Ugly Duckling," one of his most famous and widely recognized stories.

When was the memorial unveiled, and why? It was unveiled on 14 June 2005, on the 200th anniversary of Andersen's birth, commissioned by the Danish Royal Family to commemorate his 1862 visit to Malaga.

How far is it from Malaga's old town? Plaza de la Marina is within easy walking distance of the cathedral and the old town — just a few minutes on foot toward the port and Paseo del Parque.