This equestrian sculpture by Joaquín Bibao is a tribute to Ferdinand III. He was the King of Castile (beginning in 1217) and also León (starting in 1230) until his death in 1252. Saint Ferdinand of Castile was later canonized for reclaiming Christianity on the Iberian Peninsula (present day Spain and Portugal). His military campaign included defeating the Moors in Seville in the mid-13th century. Ferdinand III is buried in nearby Cathedral of Our Lady of Seville. The monument stands in Plaza Nueva adjacent to City Hall. Shown in the niche is a sculpture by José Lafita Diaz of Admiral Ramón de Bonifaz, the creator of the Royal Navy of Castile.
