Aparicio Saravia Statue, Montevideo
The equestrian statue of Aparicio Saravia (1856 鈥� 1904), a Uruguayan politician and military commander, member of the Uruguayan National Party, refers to an era of civil unrest in Uruguay. A revolutionary leader at the helm of a 15,000-strong army, Saravia waged war against the Uruguayan government at the turn of the last century. After his death in battle in 1904, the army was disbanded and the so-called Saravian Revolution, the last civil war in Uruguayan history, came to an end, followed by the Peace of Acegu谩 which finally brought stability to the country.
The statue is the work of Jos茅 Luis Zorilla de San Martin (1891鈥�1975), a prominent Uruguayan sculptor and painter, whose style is characterized by a blend of baroque and modern elements. The creative vision of Zorrilla de San Mart铆n regarding monumental sculpture is best described with his own words: 鈥淪trong and powerful in every element. Without a shade of doubt or obscurity, but simple and eloquent. Thousands of men, women and children will pass by a monument every day, going about their business: work, home, school or amusement. I would like each of them, within a brief moment that they can dedicate to a bronze statue, to get a categorical and conclusive message of patriotism, freedom and courage; a message that will be the voice of the glorious tradition of our nation.鈥�
Although the original sketches for the monument were drawn around 1930, it was only a quarter of a century later that it finally materialized 鈥� cast at the prestigious Vignali foundry. Commissioned by the Directorate of the National Party, Zorrilla de San Mart铆n unveiled the statue 鈥� one of his last works and artistic legacy for both the city and the country 鈥� on May 18, 1956.
The depiction of Aparicio Saravia, the caudillo clad in poncho, with a hat, mounted on a horse 鈥渨hose agile ears look like antennas receiving messages from the fields and jungles,鈥� is an enduring symbol of the homeland of warriors on horseback. "The eastern land that is guarded here has the blood of the heroes who, [together] with General Aparicio Saravia, spilled it on the battlefields in the fight for civic liberties," says the inscription at the foot of the monument. The suggestive patina of time and the horizontal gaze of the caudillo, fixed in bronze, show that here, once again, tradition becomes spirit.
The statue is the work of Jos茅 Luis Zorilla de San Martin (1891鈥�1975), a prominent Uruguayan sculptor and painter, whose style is characterized by a blend of baroque and modern elements. The creative vision of Zorrilla de San Mart铆n regarding monumental sculpture is best described with his own words: 鈥淪trong and powerful in every element. Without a shade of doubt or obscurity, but simple and eloquent. Thousands of men, women and children will pass by a monument every day, going about their business: work, home, school or amusement. I would like each of them, within a brief moment that they can dedicate to a bronze statue, to get a categorical and conclusive message of patriotism, freedom and courage; a message that will be the voice of the glorious tradition of our nation.鈥�
Although the original sketches for the monument were drawn around 1930, it was only a quarter of a century later that it finally materialized 鈥� cast at the prestigious Vignali foundry. Commissioned by the Directorate of the National Party, Zorrilla de San Mart铆n unveiled the statue 鈥� one of his last works and artistic legacy for both the city and the country 鈥� on May 18, 1956.
The depiction of Aparicio Saravia, the caudillo clad in poncho, with a hat, mounted on a horse 鈥渨hose agile ears look like antennas receiving messages from the fields and jungles,鈥� is an enduring symbol of the homeland of warriors on horseback. "The eastern land that is guarded here has the blood of the heroes who, [together] with General Aparicio Saravia, spilled it on the battlefields in the fight for civic liberties," says the inscription at the foot of the monument. The suggestive patina of time and the horizontal gaze of the caudillo, fixed in bronze, show that here, once again, tradition becomes spirit.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Montevideo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
Aparicio Saravia Statue on Map
Sight Name: Aparicio Saravia Statue
Sight Location: Montevideo, Uruguay (See walking tours in Montevideo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Montevideo, Uruguay (See walking tours in Montevideo)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Montevideo, Uruguay
Create Your Own Walk in Montevideo
Creating your own self-guided walk in Montevideo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Prado District Walking Tour
A quiet, upscale barrio El Prado, in the north of Montevideo, is famous primarily for the sprawling park of the same name. Indeed, the city鈥檚 main green space, Parque del Prado is a major public venue made up of grassy fields, with the Arroyo Miguelete (Miguelete Creek) running through it, for which the neighborhood has been dubbed "the lung of the city".
Apart from the park,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Apart from the park,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Montevideo Old Town Walking Tour
In 1683, the Portuguese founded a city called Colonia do Sacramento across the bay from Buenos Aires. Field marshal Manuel da Fonseca built a fort there he called Montevieu. In 1724, the Spanish governor of Buenos Aires, one-armed Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, forced the Portuguese out and changed the name of the city.
Bruno and the Spanish settlers called their new city "Saint Philip and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Bruno and the Spanish settlers called their new city "Saint Philip and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles