Bartolomeo Colleoni Monument in Szczecin

The Bartolomeo Colleoni Monument on Lotników Square in Szczecin is an equestrian statue of a condottiere, a historic copy of the Renaissance monument by Andrea del Verrocchio, unveiled in Venice on 21 March 1496. The Szczecin replica made a long journey before it reached its present place.

The copy from Geislingen

The electrotype copy was made in 1909 at the Wuerttembergische Metallwarenfabrik factory in Geislingen for the Szczecin city museum, which was established in 1913. The statue was the central point of a collection of copies of famous ancient and Renaissance works in the domed hall, which today houses the Contemporary Theatre.

From Szczecin to Warsaw and back

The monument survived the Second World War undamaged. In January 1948 it was taken to Warsaw, where it first went to the National Museum, then for several years lay in the store of the Polish Army Museum, and in spring 1950 it was placed in the courtyard of the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1989 it was entered in the heritage register. Efforts to have it returned began at the beginning of 1992, and at the end of 2001 Warsaw gave its consent. The statue was set up in Szczecin on 21 August 2002, and the official unveiling took place on 31 August. In May and June 2009 the monument was thoroughly renovated and at that time it regained the weapon in its right hand, recreated on the model of the original.

Lotników Square lies next to the Royal Gate, and not far away stands the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic.

Practical information

• The monument stands on Lotników Square in the centre of Szczecin and can be viewed from the outside at any time.