Isabel la Católica — eng

Located between Reyes Católicos and Gran Vía de Colón streets, it pays tribute to an extraordinary historical figure. Isabella the Catholic, born in Madrigal, Ávila, in 1459, was the daughter of John II of Castile and his second wife, Isabella of Portugal.

In 1469, she married her second cousin, Ferdinand II of Aragon, in a union that required a papal dispensation. From this marriage,children were born who would leave a significant mark on history, such as Isabella, Queen of Portugal; John, Prince of Asturias; Joanna, Queen of Castile, Catherine Queen of England and Mary, Queen of Portugal, following the death of her sister Isabella.

Isabella the Catholic played a crucial role in the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada, bringing an end to the Reconquista that had begun centuries earlier with Pelayo in Asturias. After the capture of Granada, she promoted the construction of the Royal Chapel, which served as a mausoleum for her and her husband Fernando. Over time, it also became the final resting place of her daughter Juana and her son-in-law Philip I of Habsburg and her grandson Miguel 

The Plaza Isabel la Católica serves as a reminder of the great influence and legacy of this queen, whose reign marked a turning point in the history of Spain.

The Monument erected in 1892 at the center of the square, pays tribute to the Capitulations of Santa Fe and depicts Queen Isabella the Catholic and Christopher Columbus. This monument was created by the Valencian sculptor Mariano Benlliure i Gil, born in 1862 into a family of artists. The sculpture captures the moment when Columbus presented his plans for his voyage to the Indies, which ultimately led to the discovery of America.

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