The Monument to the 400th Anniversary of Columbus' Voyage, sculpted by Mariano Benlliure, resides in the heart of Granada, Spain. The monument features Isabella I of Castile on her throne, with Columbus bowing to her. Initially, Justo de Gandarias planned a triumphal arch, but his idea was not realized. The enduring idea for a monument to Columbus, however, saw the light, albeit the initial plan to feature Boabdil was abandoned. The monument was erected to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage.
However, the anticipated unveiling on 12 October 1892 was delayed and relocated to 2 November 1892 at the Paseo del Salón, due to Queen regent Maria Christina of Habsburg–Lorraine's refusal to travel to Granada to inaugurate the monument. This unexpected refusal sparked a revolt, resulting in citywide fires, riots, and barricades. The monument was eventually moved to its current location at the Plaza de Isabel la Católica, near the burial place of Isabella in the Royal Chapel of Granada.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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