On November 1, 1755, a large earthquake destroyed much of Lisbon. The seismic event launched a massive tsunami along the coastline. The destructive waves were estimated between 16 and 32 feet high. Surprisingly, Cádiz was spared significant damage. In appreciation for the miracle, the Municipal Town Council declared the Virgin of the Rosary as the patron saint of Cádiz. Then they commissioned sculptor Torcuato Cayón de la Vega to create a monument in her honor. After it was finished in 1761, the Triunfo de la Virgen del Rosario was placed on a Solomonic column and a marble base.
