The monument dedicated to the aviator Joaquín Loriga stands in one of the most emblematic squares in the urban centre of Lalín, built on the former site of the medieval tower that gave origin to the town. The monument, created in a modern artistic language based on geometry and the simplification of forms, is organised on an inclined base formed by large aligned granite blocks and crowned by a discreet metal band with bronze inscriptions. Its monumental presence makes this space an important landmark within the town’s urban landscape. On the sides of the monument there are two reliefs that allegorically represent Spain and the Philippines in flight, united beneath the name and image of the aviator in memory of the historic Madrid–Manila flight of 1926, carried out by Joaquín Loriga together with Gallarza and Estévez. In front of the tail of the airplane, placed vertically on the ground, stands the figure of the pilot, depicted wearing a helmet and working uniform, resting his hands on a propeller while holding a scroll. These elements reinforce the symbolic character of the tribute and highlight the human dimension of the achievement. The monument stands out for the clarity of its lines and the harmony of its forms, especially in the silhouette of the aircraft, whose position suggests a composition of great symbolic strength. The symmetrical arrangement of the elements gives the work solemnity and balance, paying tribute to one of the most remarkable feats of Spanish aviation and to one of the most significant historical figures associated with Lalín.
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