Monument to Emilio Prados Such

The Monument to Emilio Prados stands in Málaga, on the seafront of the El Palo district, right where the Arroyo Gálica stream meets the sea. It honors a poet born in the city, and it does so through a form that tells its own story.

What does the monument look like?

The sculpture is made of two white reinforced-concrete panels arranged to form an open book. The surfaces, finished with polychrome details, show the silhouette of the poet alongside the prow of a jábega — the traditional fishing boat associated with Málaga's coast. The pairing of book and boat is deliberate: it links literary work with the maritime setting that shaped the poet's imagination. Each of the two "pages" measures 2.90 m in height and 1.75 m in width, with a thickness of 0.14 m.

Who created it, and when?

The monument was designed by Argentine sculptor Andrés Montesanto, who donated the work to the city. It was unveiled on 19 November 2013, as part of a wider tribute to the poets of the Generation of '27, a group of Spanish writers active in the 1920s and 1930s. The unveiling coincided with the opening of a seafront promenade running along the stretch of coast that had inspired several of these poets.

Who was Emilio Prados?

Emilio Prados Such was born in Málaga in 1899 and belonged to the Generation of '27, a circle that also included Rafael Alberti and Federico García Lorca. After the Spanish Civil War he went into exile in Mexico, where he lived and worked until his death in 1962. His poetry frequently returns to the sea and to his native city, which makes this seafront location a fitting place for his memorial.

How do you get there?

The monument sits on Calle Banda del Mar, along the seafront promenade of El Palo, at the point where the Arroyo Gálica reaches the sea. This is the eastern part of Málaga, reachable from the city center by local bus or by following the pedestrian and cycling path that runs along the beaches. It's worth pairing the visit with a walk through El Palo itself, a district known for its fishing heritage and for restaurants serving fresh fish grilled on skewers over open fires (espetos).

What else is worth seeing nearby?

El Palo is one of Málaga's more authentic neighborhoods, less touristy than the city center but valued by locals for the atmosphere of a small fishing town absorbed into the wider city. Other markers of local history and culture appear along the same promenade, and El Palo's beach itself ranks among the calmer stretches of sand in Málaga.

When is the best time to visit?

The monument can be seen year-round, but the promenade is most pleasant in spring and autumn, when temperatures are milder than in the height of summer. Early mornings offer a quieter view of the sea before the beach fills up.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Monument to Emilio Prados located? On the seafront promenade of El Palo in Málaga, on Calle Banda del Mar, at the point where the Arroyo Gálica meets the sea.

Who designed the monument? Argentine sculptor Andrés Montesanto, who donated the work to the city.

When was the monument unveiled? On 19 November 2013, during a ceremony honoring the poets of the Generation of '27.

Why does the monument take the shape of a book? The open-book form reflects Emilio Prados's literary work, while the prow of the jábega represents his lifelong connection to the sea and to Málaga.