Monument to Don Bosco

The Monument to Don Bosco stands in Málaga's Plaza de Fuente Olletas, right beside the local Salesian community that has kept his legacy alive in the city for generations. Unveiled on 14 May 2009, the bronze sculpture honors Saint John Bosco, founder of the Salesian order, and ranks among the most significant tributes to him found anywhere outside Italy.

What does the sculpture show?

The work was created by Martín Lagares, a sculptor from the province of Huelva, and it does not depict Don Bosco alone. He appears flanked by two young figures from his own educational mission — Dominic Savio and Laura Vicuña, both closely tied to Salesian history. Laura Vicuña is shown holding a small image of Our Lady Help of Christians and a biznaga, the woven jasmine bouquet that has long served as an emblem of Málaga itself. That last detail is what roots the monument firmly in its city rather than leaving it as generic religious statuary.

Why was it built in Málaga specifically?

Former students and supporters of the Salesian works in Málaga funded the monument themselves, a sign of how strongly the city's community still identifies with Don Bosco's educational legacy. Its inauguration drew senior figures from both church and city hall: the Bishop of Málaga, Jesús Catalá, and the Salesians' Rector Major, Pascual Chaves, presided over the ceremony, with then-mayor Francisco de la Torre also in attendance. Málaga's connection to the saint runs deeper still — local sources describe it as the first city in the world to name a street after him, well before his cult spread internationally.

How does it compare to other Don Bosco monuments?

Local Salesian and media accounts describe Málaga's monument as the second-largest dedicated to the saint anywhere in the world, surpassed only by the one in Turin, the city most closely tied to his life and work. That scale makes it a point of interest not just for pilgrims and the faithful, but for anyone curious about public and religious sculpture in Andalusia.

How do you get there?

The monument sits in Plaza de Fuente Olletas, a square chosen precisely because of its proximity to the Salesian institution long associated with Don Bosco's work in the city. As an open urban square rather than a museum piece, it is freely accessible year-round, with no entry fee and no opening hours to plan around.

When is the best time to visit?

The most meaningful date to visit is around 14 May, the anniversary of the unveiling, when the local Salesian community typically marks the occasion. Outside of that, the square can be visited any time of year — though Málaga's midday summer heat makes an early-morning or late-afternoon stroll through this part of the city considerably more comfortable.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Don Bosco monument in Málaga? The bronze sculpture was created by Martín Lagares, a Spanish artist from the Huelva region.

Who else is depicted alongside Don Bosco? Two of his young followers, Dominic Savio and Laura Vicuña, appear beside him, both significant figures in Salesian tradition.

When was the monument unveiled? It was inaugurated on 14 May 2009, in a ceremony attended by the Bishop of Málaga and the Salesians' Rector Major.

Is there an entrance fee? No — the monument stands in the open, publicly accessible Plaza de Fuente Olletas, free to visit at any time.