BolĂvar Desnudo (Nude BolĂvar)
This unusual monument shows a naked SimĂłn BolĂvar stripped of clothing, medals, and swords.
There’s something unusual about this statue of SimĂłn BolĂvar. The Liberator is perched atop a charging steed, his arm outstretched, as he races onward. The horse wears no tack, and, most unusually, BolĂvar wears no clothing.
The only public monument showing BolĂvar without clothing, medals, or swords is a symbol of liberty and a message for equality. Wanting something unique to commemorate the centennial for the city of Pereira, Lázaro Nicholls, a past mayor, commissioned the famed sculptor Rodrigo Arenas Betancourt to come up with an image of BolĂvar that would set up this city’s plaza apart from the rest.
Initially the monument was going to depict a BolĂvar fully dressed in military attire, however, the artist thought it was a better idea for the sculpture to portray the revolutionary in a different way. Stripped of his military garb and accolades, this statue exudes a sense of freedom. BolĂvar is shown galloping on his stallion, unrestrained and independent, while charging onward. BolĂvar’s nudity serves a second purpose, as the statue’s lack of clothing also symbolizes equality.
Naturally, this unconventional depiction of BolĂvar attracted its fair share of criticism and backlash. But today, more than 50 years since the monument was unveiled, it remains a celebrated local attraction.
Know Before You Go
 The monument is located in the middle of the Plaza de BolĂvar.
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