Look right ahead towards the greenery of the plaza and you’ll spot a life-sized bronze statue of a man standing tall and dignified on a stone pedestal, holding what looks like a scroll in one hand and wearing a buttoned-up coat-a bit like a teacher waiting for class to begin!
Now, as you stand here, let yourself drift back to the late 1800s, when Logroño’s proud citizens felt the urge to honor one of their most famous sons: Práxedes Mateo Sagasta. Picture the excitement in the city in June 1891-people everywhere, the mayor beaming with pride, and a spark of celebration in the air! With great fanfare, they unveiled this very statue you see before you, crafted by the sculptor Pablo Gilbert, to immortalize Sagasta, a legendary statesman who put Logroño on the map.
But Sagasta’s journey as a statue was nothing short of an adventure itself. At first, he stood with dignity just outside the Convento del Carmen-yes, the very building that is now the Práxedes Mateo Sagasta High School! But then came the winds of change… and maybe a touch too much excitement. In 1938, as Spain reeled through turbulent times, the statue was whisked away to the banks of the Ebro River, next to some very lucky wine cellars. It’s as if Sagasta wanted a taste of Rioja while reflecting by the water, right?
However, this was not a restful retirement! In a moment of wild vandalism, someone actually attacked the statue-decapitated Sagasta and hurled his head into the river! Poor Sagasta, he truly lost his head over Logroño... Literally! For years, the headless statue sat in a lonely municipal warehouse, missing both his thoughts and his view.
Luckily, in 1955, a talented local artist, Jesús Infante, gave Sagasta a brand new bronze noggin. But even then, the poor man waited another twenty years before being brought back into the sunlight, finally finding his spot here in this beautiful plaza. And just a few years ago, the city gave him a splendid new column to stand on, so he can keep a watchful bronze eye on Logroño for centuries to come.
So, as you look up at Sagasta, remember-he’s survived more than a few headaches, and now he’s back to keeping us in good company, head held high!
