Statue of Hernán Cortés

Hernán Cortés has been memorialized by a statue in an eponymous square near his childhood home in Medellín since 1890. Built by melting down old cannons and perched atop a pedestal of stone brought from Novelda (Alicante), the figure of the conquistador of the Aztec Empire strikes a proud pose with the banner of Castille, a scepter in hand, and the broken shards of Aztec idols under his feet. It’s a really impacting statue, especially with the medieval castle in the background. The plaza still serves as a regular meeting place for local townspeople.