Monumento a Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire

Monumento a Fray Leopoldo de Alpandeire stands in Alpandeire, a small village in the province of Málaga, tucked into the Serranía de Ronda about 17 km from Ronda and some 120 km from Málaga city. The bronze statue honors the village's most famous son, a Capuchin friar known simply as Fray Leopoldo, whose legacy still draws pilgrims and curious travelers to this quiet mountain settlement.

Who was Fray Leopoldo?

Born Francisco Tomás de San Juan Bautista Márquez Sánchez, Fray Leopoldo came into the world in Alpandeire on 24 June 1864 and was baptized in the local church five days later. At 35, in 1899, he entered the Capuchin order in Seville. From 1914 until his death he lived in Granada, where for nearly fifty years he walked the city's streets collecting alms for the poor and sick. He died in Granada on 9 February 1956, and in 2010 the Catholic Church declared him a Beatus. Across Andalusia he is remembered as a figure of humility and selfless charity, and his home village keeps that memory alive.

What will you see at the monument?

The statue stands close to the friar's birthplace and depicts him in his Capuchin habit, in the modest stance locals associate with him. It was cast in bronze by sculptor Venancio Sánchez Gálvez, born in Tocón (Granada province), who has family ties to Alpandeire through his father. The monument was unveiled on 29 August 2009, in a ceremony attended by Salvador Pendón Muñoz, then president of the Málaga Provincial Council, and Gabriel Jiménez Ruiz, mayor of Alpandeire; the statue was blessed by Friar José Luis Gabarrón. The project was jointly funded by the Málaga Provincial Council and the Alpandeire town hall, reflecting how central Fray Leopoldo's story is to local identity.

How to get there?

Alpandeire sits in the mountainous Serranía de Ronda, so the easiest way to reach it is by car. From Ronda, a scenic winding local road gets you there in roughly half an hour. From Málaga city, expect a journey of about ninety minutes to two hours, depending on the mountain route you take. The monument sits right in the village center, an easy walk once you've parked, along narrow streets typical of the region's white villages.

When to visit?

Spring and autumn are the best seasons, offering mild mountain temperatures and the Serranía de Ronda's landscapes at their most scenic. Summer afternoons can turn hot, though evenings at altitude stay cooler. It's worth pairing a visit with a stroll through the village itself and a stop at the nearby Mirador de Fray Leopoldo, a lookout point on the road between Alpandeire and Faraján that holds an older statue of the friar.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the monument located? In the center of Alpandeire, close to the house where Fray Leopoldo was born, in the province of Málaga.

Who created the sculpture? The bronze statue was made by Venancio Sánchez Gálvez, a sculptor born in Tocón, Granada province.

When was the monument unveiled? It was officially unveiled on 29 August 2009, attended by provincial and municipal authorities.

Are there other sites in the area linked to Fray Leopoldo? Yes — an older statue stands at the Mirador de Fray Leopoldo on the road between Alpandeire and Faraján, and the village church where he was baptized can also be visited.