Statue Simón Bolivar - La Laguna

In the charming Parque de la Constitución you will discover the monuments of Simón Bolivar.

The monument was commissioned by the House of Venezuela in the Canary Islands and subsidized by the Venezuelan government, as a tribute to the liberator of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Panama.

It was inaugurated on October 13 , 1986.

Simón Bolívar, nicknamed "El Libertador" (The Liberator), was a prominent South American military and political leader who played a crucial role in the independence movements of several South American countries from the Spanish Empire.

Bolívar was born into a wealthy and influential Creole family. He received an excellent education, partly in Venezuela and partly in Spain , where he was introduced to Enlightenment ideas that would influence his political philosophy.

In 1799, when Bolívar was only 16 years old , he made a trip to Europe to continue his education. During this trip, the ship he was traveling on, called the "San Ildefonso," made a stopover in Tenerife . During that stay , Bolívar spent some time in San Cristóbal de La Laguna . This was an important experience for the young Bolívar, as he was placed with the family of his teacher and mentor Simón Rodríguez. Bolívar and Rodríguez had a close relationship, and Rodríguez had a significant influence on Bolívar's intellectual and political development .

It is documented that during their stay, Bolívar and Rodríguez visited the University of La Laguna , one of the oldest universities in Spain. This visit was part of Bolívar's educational journey and gave him the opportunity to become acquainted with Spanish culture and academia.

Willem Vandenameele