Many of us in childhood read the book of one of the most famous writers of the seventeenth century, Miguel Cervantes, describing the adventures of the knight of the sad image of Don Quixote and his faithful servant Sancho Panza. However, not everyone is well acquainted with the biography of this Spanish author. And even more so, not everyone knows that hundreds of monuments around the world have been erected in honor of him and the heroes of his popular book. The most famous of them can be seen in cities such as Madrid, Nafpaktos, Moscow and Havana.
Monument in Greece
The monument to Cervantes in Greece adorns the citadel of the Venetian fort. At its picturesque walls (on Cape Scrofa) in October 1571, a great naval battle took place, as a result of which the united European fleet defeated the numerous fleet of the Turks, invincible until that time. The famous writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was directly involved in this battle. He commanded a platoon of Spanish soldiers and was badly wounded. In honor of the writer, the inhabitants of the small Greek city of Nafpaktos installed the corresponding sculpture.
Monument to Cervantes in Spain
Monument dedicated to Don Quixote and Cervantes, installed in Madrid on the Plaza de España, not far from the Royal Palace. The history of its appearance is connected with the 300th anniversary of the death of the great author.
In 1915, the Spanish government announced the terms of a competition for the creation of a national monument that could adorn the palace square. The winning design was submitted by sculptor Cullo-Valera and architect Zapatera. A monument to Cervantes was opened in Madrid in October 1929, despite the fact that at that time the necessary work on its creation had not yet been completed.
The sculpture itself is a rather complex composition of three figures. In the center is a writer who sits in thought on a plinth, and right in front of him are Don Quixote and Sancho cast in bronze. At the top of the stele is an allegorical globe with five continents.
Monument in Russia
In 1980, Spain and the Soviet Union, as a sign of the unity and friendship of their peoples, agreed to exchange "cultural signs". Russia, for its part, presented a monument created in honor of one of the most famous poets, prose writers and playwrights of Russian literature - Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. And in 1981, Madrid officially presented the capital with a monument to Cervantes, cast in bronze. Today it is installed near the River Station in the Druzhba Park, located on the Leningrad Highway.
It is especially worth noting that the monumentCervantes in Moscow is an exact copy of the monument that since 1835 has been standing in the center of the capital of Spain on Cortes Square. Today it is one of the most beautiful and famous sculptures in Madrid, created by the famous sculptor Antonio Sola.
Monument to a writer in Cuba
In order to see the monument to Cervantes, installed in Cuba, you need to go to the so-called Old Havana. Next, you need to walk along Empedrado Street, which starts from the Cathedral Square, from the Museum of the Revolution towards the city Museum of Colonial Art, go to Cervantes Square. It is here that the monument to the famous hero Don Quixote, made of white marble, is located. Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra sits next to him in an antique armchair with a book.
Not all tourists know about this monument, installed on a very small square. As a rule, large groups are not brought here, and you can see the sculpture only by ordering an excursion with a personal guide or by setting off on your own in search.
