Explore Castillo Monumento Colomares: A Stunning Tribute in Spain
New York-based physician Esteban Martin Martin always had great enthusiasm for the life and travels of explorer Christopher Columbus. Though Christopher Columbus was Italian, Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella funded Columbus’s expeditions to the New World. Esteban Martin Martin was convinced that not enough people appreciated Spain’s contributions to the legacy of Christopher Columbus, so Martin Martin decided to build a monument that looks like a fantastical castle called Castillo Monumento Colomares dedicated to the explorer in Benalmadena, Spain.
Castillo Monumento Colomares is a sprawling stone structure built between 1987 and 1994 that employs several different styles of architecture that were popular when Columbus and his crew sailed the high seas, including Gothic spires, Mudejar brickwork, and Romanesque arches. Visitors are unable to enter the “castle,” but for a small fee, onlookers can tour the well-manicured grounds and view the intricate monument from various angles. Castillo Monumento Colomares occasionally hosts live performances, markets, and conferences.
Some may view a monument to Christopher Columbus—whose questionable conduct has been scrutinized in recent years—as a little kooky. Regardless of your thoughts about the legacy of Christopher Columbus, Castillo Monumento Colomares features some truly impressive craftsmanship. A stone re-creation of the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María—the three ships that carried Christopher Columbus and his crew to North and Central America—is one of the monument’s grand highlights.
Dr. Martin Martin spent decades studying historic documents so that he could integrate as many flourishes rooted in Spanish history as possible into his stately monument. Castillo Monumento Colomares features Christian, Muslim, and Jewish architecture as these three religions influenced Spanish culture during the life and times of Christopher Columbus. A Chinese pagoda tower constructed in the Muslim-influenced Mudejar style is one of the monument’s most eye-catching details. The pagoda is a nod to Columbus’s yearning to travel east.
Photo by depositphotos.com
Located on the Costa del Sol, Castillo Monumento Colomares offers a sweeping view of the cerulean waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Visitors can spend the day in nearby Málaga and enjoy a stunning botanical garden, a Spanish extension of the Centre Pompidou, and the Calle Marqués de Larios pedestrian mall. Travelers can also relax in the sunshine at the gorgeous La Malagueta Beach.
Photo by depositphotos.com
The ornate stonework of Castillo Monumento Colomares is a sight worth seeing. If you’re a fan of ornate architecture with enough flourishes to keep you engaged for hours, a trip to Castillo Monumento Colomares is an absolute must.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Castillo Monumento Colomares, Finca La Carraca, Benalmádena, Málaga, Spain
- Coordinates
- 36.5905, -4.57266
- Access
- The operator says the monument is visited from outside only; it is a family-owned private property open for ticketed visits. The exterior circuit has stairs and uneven walking surfaces. Contact the site before a group visit or photo shoot and check accessibility if stairs are a concern. Only a few parking places are reported beside the approach road; do not assume every map pin is an entrance.
- Admission
- The operator’s current posted walk-up prices are €3.50 for adults and €2.50 for children and pensioners. Groups of at least 25 are listed at €2 per person; adding a pre-arranged explanatory guide is €2.50 per person. These are the monument’s published prices; confirm at the gate because it is privately maintained and prices can change.
- Time needed
- The operator does not publish a standard duration. An independent current guide gives about 40 minutes for its guided tour and 45–60 minutes for self-guided viewing; treat these as that guide’s estimates, not a guaranteed official schedule. Allow extra time for photographs.
- Best season
- The operator does not name a best season. Spring or autumn may be more comfortable for this largely outdoor, lightly shaded visit; that is a practical weather suggestion, not an official recommendation. In summer the operator lists a midday closure, so check its seasonal schedule before setting out.
- Opening hours
- The operator’s current schedule is Tuesday–Sunday, closed Monday: spring 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; summer 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. and 5:00–9:00 p.m.; autumn and winter 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. The walk-up monument schedule is separate from any pre-arranged group guide. Call the operator to confirm the date and seasonal hours.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-23
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-23
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