La Regenta

Bronze statue of the heroine of Spain's greatest 19th-century novel

A bronze statue by Mauro Álvarez Fernández (1997) depicting Ana Ozores, the protagonist of Leopoldo Alas "Clarín's" novel La Regenta, standing near the cathedral that features so prominently in the book. She gazes out with the slightly melancholy expression that readers of the novel will recognise — Ana is one of the great tragic heroines of 19th-century European literature.

The statue stands on Plaza de Alfonso II el Casto, behind the cathedral. If you have read the novel, walking through the old quarter takes on an extra dimension — Clarín described these streets and buildings so precisely that the fictional Vetusta maps almost exactly onto real Oviedo. Even without the literary connection, the statue is a fine piece of figurative bronze in a beautiful plaza.

things to do sight sculpture
A story
La Regenta (1884-85) by Leopoldo Alas "Clarín" is often called the Spanish Madame Bovary. Set in the fictional city of Vetusta — transparently modelled on Oviedo — it follows Ana Ozores, trapped between a predatory priest and a cynical seducer. Clarín was an Oviedo university professor, and locals still debate which real buildings inspired which fictional ones.

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