Monumento a Palafox

Monumento a Palafox is an equestrian statue of General José de Palafox standing in Zaragoza, on Plaza José María Forqué near the site of the former El Portillo gate. It's one of several monuments across the city commemorating the heroes of the Napoleonic sieges of 1808–1809.

Who was Palafox, and why does he have a monument here?

José de Palafox y Melci (1776–1847) was a Spanish military officer proclaimed governor of Zaragoza and captain general of Aragón by the city's residents on 25 May 1808. He led the defense of the city through two sieges by Napoleon's forces — an episode still regarded as one of the defining chapters in Zaragoza's history. The idea of honoring him with a monument dates back to September 1808, right after the first siege ended, when the city's parish priests first proposed it. It took nearly two centuries for the project to actually be built.

When was the monument built, and by whom?

The monument was unveiled on 22 December 2000. It was commissioned and funded by the Asociación Cultural Los Sitios de Zaragoza, a group founded in 1985 to preserve the memory of the city's sieges. The sculptor behind the work is Ignacio Rodríguez Ruiz, known as Iñaki, an artist born in Bilbao who trained in Zaragoza and Barcelona.

What will you see there?

The statue shows General Palafox on horseback, saber in hand, facing toward El Portillo — symbolically toward the direction from which the French troops advanced. Including its pedestal, the whole piece stands roughly 12 meters tall, with the bronze figure itself measuring 4.4 meters. It rests on a stone base decorated with the city's coat of arms and a bronze plaque recounting the monument's history.

How do you get there?

Plaza José María Forqué sits in central Zaragoza, an easy walk from the historic center and the city's main sights. It makes a good short stop while tracing the city's Napoleonic-era history — worth combining with other monuments from the same period, such as the Monumento a los Sitios on Plaza de los Sitios.

When is the best time to visit?

The monument is out in the open, free to view year-round with no opening hours to worry about. Late afternoon light works best for photographing the equestrian figure, catching it from the side. The square doesn't draw crowds, so there's no particular time of day to avoid.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Monumento a Palafox located? On Plaza José María Forqué in Zaragoza, near where the El Portillo gate used to stand.

When was the monument built? It was unveiled on 22 December 2000, although the idea of honoring Palafox with a monument goes back to 1808.

Who created the monument? Sculptor Ignacio Rodríguez Ruiz, known as Iñaki, born in Bilbao.

Is there an admission fee? No — it stands in an open public square and can be visited freely at any time.