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Monumento a la Raza (Seville)

Coordinates: 37°22′43.36″N 5°59′20.15″W / 37.3787111°N 5.9889306°W / 37.3787111; -5.9889306
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Monumento a la Raza
Picture of the monument, a marble stone that has Spanish-language text written on it.
The monument in October 2016
Map
37°22′43.36″N 5°59′20.15″W / 37.3787111°N 5.9889306°W / 37.3787111; -5.9889306
LocationSeville, Spain
DesignerSantiago Martínez
MaterialMarble
Completion date1929
Opening date12 October 1929
Dedicated dateDía de la Hispanidad
Restored date2018
Dedicated toLa Raza

The Monumento a la Raza is an outdoor marble monument in the city of Seville, Andalusia, Spain. It is installed along María Luisa Park. It was inaugurated on 12 October 1929—the Día de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day). It has written part of the 1905 poem "Salutación del optimista", written by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío (1867–1916).

History and construction

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A sketch of María Luisa Park
The monument location within María Luisa Park (far left, No. 41)

The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929's organisers came up with the idea for the Monumento a la Raza.[1] Luis Rodríguez Caso, the main organiser, proposed placing a 100 metres (330 ft) high concrete columnin Seville's Triana neighbourhood. He intended to build restaurants and a viewing platform on top, both of which would have lifts access.[2]

Santiago Martnez created the final project and it was inaugurated on 12 October 1929—the Día de la Hispanidad (the Spanish-speaking version of Columbus Day).[1] It is located in Isabel la Católica Avenue, in María Luisa Park, near the north tower of the Seville's Plaza de España.[1]

In the middle of 2018, the Seville Urban Planning Management Agency restored the monument.[3]

Description

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The Monumento a la Raza is a marble stele.[1]

Poem

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Close-up of the monument featuring the Spanish-language text.
Detail of the poem

The poem "Salutación del optimista" (1905), written by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío (1867–1916), is inscribed in bronze across the monument as a salutation to Hispanic Americans.[1]

Inscription (in Spanish)

Ínclitas razas ubérrimas,
sangre de Hispania fecunda,
espíritus fraternos,
luminosas almas, ¡salve!

Inscription (in English)

Illustrious, most fruitful races,
fecund blood of Hispania,
fraternal spirits,
lumious souls, greetings!

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "La poesía de Rubén Darío en un homenaje a la raza" [The poetry of Rubén Darío in a tribute to the people] (in Spanish). Sevilla Directo. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  2. ^ González Moreno, Joaquín (1991). Aportación a la historia de Sevilla (in Spanish). Castillejo. p. 300. ISBN 8487041752.
  3. ^ Ybarra, Pedro (5 July 2018). "Así han quedado los monumentos de Sevilla restaurados en el último mes" [This is how the monuments of Seville have been restored in the last month]. Diario ABC de Sevilla (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
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