Statue of Leovigildo, Madrid

The Statue of Leovigildo is one of twenty stone figures of Visigothic and medieval Spanish rulers standing on Plaza de Oriente in Madrid, right beside the Royal Palace. It depicts Leovigild, a 6th-century Visigothic king, as a full, larger-than-life figure: he holds a scepter in his left hand, while his right hand rests on a shield decorated with a relief believed to show his wife Goiswintha, mother of the later king Reccared. Carved from limestone, the work is attributed to sculptor Felipe del Corral.

Where exactly does the statue stand

The statue stands on Plaza de Oriente, the broad square between the Royal Palace and the Teatro Real opera house, in the heart of tourist Madrid. Together with nineteen other statues of Spanish monarchs — spanning from the Visigothic period to the medieval kingdoms — it forms two parallel rows of ten figures each, creating a distinctive open-air gallery of Spain's royal history. The coordinates place it roughly at 40.4178° N, 3.7127° W, on the western side of the square, close to the palace façade.

Why a row of kings ended up on this square

The story behind these statues is less obvious than it first appears. The entire series of royal figures, Leovigildo included, was commissioned in the 18th century to crown the attic (roofline) of the Royal Palace, following the classical European fashion of topping grand palaces with statuary. The figures proved too heavy for the building's structure, so they were never installed there. They were first placed on Plaza de Oriente arranged in a circle around the equestrian monument to Philip IV, and in 1941 they were rearranged into the current, orderly layout of two facing rows.

Who was Leovigild, and why does he have a statue

Leovigild was one of the most consequential Visigothic rulers, reigning in the second half of the 6th century. He is remembered as a determined military leader and administrative reformer who expanded the kingdom's territory across the Iberian Peninsula and strengthened royal authority against rival nobles. His place among the kings on Plaza de Oriente reflects the series' intent to present an unbroken line of Spanish monarchy reaching back well before the medieval Christian kingdoms, all the way to the Visigothic era.

What else to see nearby

Plaza de Oriente is one of Madrid's most elegant squares, framed by classical architecture. Beyond the gallery of royal statues, visitors should note the central equestrian monument to Philip IV, the imposing façade of the Royal Palace, and the Teatro Real, the city's renowned opera house. The square connects easily on foot to the Almudena Cathedral and the Sabatini Gardens, making it simple to build a relaxed, unhurried walk through this part of historic Madrid.

Frequently asked questions

Who made the Statue of Leovigildo? It is attributed to the sculptor Felipe del Corral, part of the 18th-century series of royal statues commissioned for the Royal Palace.

Why are the king statues on the square instead of on the palace? They were designed to decorate the palace roofline but turned out to be too heavy for the structure, so they were placed at ground level on Plaza de Oriente instead.

How many royal statues are on Plaza de Oriente? Twenty statues of Spanish rulers stand on the square, including Leovigildo, arranged in two rows of ten.

Is there an admission fee to see the statue? No — Plaza de Oriente is a public city square, so viewing the Statue of Leovigildo and the full gallery of kings is free and accessible at any time.