San Martín and Merceditas returned to the Alameda: the sculpture was restored after being vandalized.

The sculpture of José de San Martín with little Merceditas has been returned to its original location on the Paseo Alameda in the city of Mendoza, where the work was restored thanks to the work of artist Sonia López.

It's worth remembering that the sculpture, which had been vandalized for the fourth time in April , is part of the capital's urban heritage. It also serves as an emotional and cultural symbol for residents and visitors.

The City Council carried out the work to restore this piece of art to its original form and function: a symbolic meeting point in homage to the Liberator. The sculpture, made of epoxy resin with an iron frame, had to be reconstructed in several areas, especially the general's left hand, which was completely torn off and could not be recovered .

It was also reported to have suffered landslides and visible damage, which required meticulous technical work by the architect.

Regarding this, Sonia López explained: “I had to restructure the entire interior, from the arms to the head and feet, reinforcing them with angle irons and new anchors to the bench. What I'm most interested in is that it's strong, so that it can't be easily damaged again.” “The sculpture is made so that they can sit, play, and feel accompanied by San Martín and Merceditas . I don't want to imagine it fenced off. I'm confident that we'll all be able to take care of it,” she explained.

For her part, Elsa Rodríguez, head of the Heritage Department, addressed acts of vandalism like the one suffered by the sculpture. These acts can be subject to sanctions under the Code of Coexistence, which include repairing the damage or performing community service. "We are constantly working to raise awareness, but we also apply legal tools to prevent this from happening again ," she stated.

The City's Undersecretary of Tourism, Felipe Rinaldo, emphasized the importance of protecting public spaces and the works that enrich them: “We are happy to have this sculpture back in its place. It's sad that we have to restore it for the fourth time, but we continue working at the request of Mayor Ulpiano Suárez to maintain each of our spaces in good condition. This affects the City, tourism, and the community. That's why the call is clear: let's take care of our urban heritage; it belongs to everyone .”

Rinaldo also noted that the City has a surveillance system that includes cameras and security cameras, and that the Eyes on Alert program allows residents to report suspicious situations in real time. He concluded: "We know that incidents occur mostly at night, but we trust that, with collective commitment, we can protect what belongs to us ."

Now, with the sculpture of José de San Martín and Merceditas now in place, residents, Mendoza residents, and tourists once again have a landmark in our history in the city of Mendoza.