During your vacation in Oviedo, the capital of the principality of Asturias, head to San Francisco Park to see the Mafalda Statue. This colorful work of art is a tribute to the comic strip character of the same name, a 6-year-old girl named Mafalda.
The character of Mafalda appeared in newspapers in Argentina during the 1960s and '70s in stories that followed her trials and tribulations and which had political, social and human rights themes. Her creator was Joaquin Lavado, a cartoonist who drew under the pen name Quino and was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities. These annual awards, which are now known as the Princess of Asturias Awards, are presented in Oviedo.
Find the statue of the popular character on a park bench near a small pond with a fountain. The work is a replica of the Mafalda Statue in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Sit next to her, take a selfie and then contemplate the natural beauty of your surroundings. Afterward, stroll along the wide avenues and paths that wind through the park’s lush landscape of scented blooms and banana, oak, cedar, magnolia and chestnut trees.
Stop at some of the park's other statues and sites of interest such as the Rose Garden, a stone arch that was once a part of the ancient San Isidoro Church and a stone monument dedicated to Leopoldo Alas Clarín. He was an acclaimed 19th-century Spanish novelist who lived in Oviedo for a while.
Relax by the fountains and spot local wildlife, which includes ducks, swans and free-roaming peacocks. Also within the park are a bandstand, basketball goals and table tennis tables.
Mafalda Statue and San Francisco Park are located in the heart of Oviedo, about 600 yards (550 meters) west of Oviedo Cathedral. Walk, arrive by public transportation or drive. Parking is available for a fee in nearby garages.
