Monumento al Tamborrero
Monumento al Tamborrero
3.8
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3.8
23 reviews
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westy54
Sydney, Australia13,472 contributions
May 2019
This monument, which is really two statues being one at the front and the other at the back, sits at one end of Plaza Sarriegi just opposite the Bretxa market in the Old Town.
On the front is a bust of the Basque composer Raimundo Sarriegui (1838 - 1913) who wrote the "March of San Sebastian" effectively an anthem for San Sebastian and played and sung on the saint's festival day on 20 January each year together with the beating of drums and barrels.
On the rear is a full length statue of a drummer boy dressed in Napoleonic uniform who is playing the drums and looking at a plaque upon which the words of "The March of San Sebastian" are written. My understanding is that this is seen as an act of defiance as the occupation forces of Napoleon are looking at what could be considered an independence anthem of the citizens.
This current bronze monument is the work of the Spanish sculptor Nino Barriuso and replaced an earlier concrete version that was put in place in 1964.
On the front is a bust of the Basque composer Raimundo Sarriegui (1838 - 1913) who wrote the "March of San Sebastian" effectively an anthem for San Sebastian and played and sung on the saint's festival day on 20 January each year together with the beating of drums and barrels.
On the rear is a full length statue of a drummer boy dressed in Napoleonic uniform who is playing the drums and looking at a plaque upon which the words of "The March of San Sebastian" are written. My understanding is that this is seen as an act of defiance as the occupation forces of Napoleon are looking at what could be considered an independence anthem of the citizens.
This current bronze monument is the work of the Spanish sculptor Nino Barriuso and replaced an earlier concrete version that was put in place in 1964.
Written 16 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA19,472 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
We found this outdoor sculpture on one of the main streets as we made our way back to our tour bus. It depicts a drummer looking at a plaque that holds the lyrics to a song that is about the march on San Sebastian.
Written 22 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
johnhp702
Derby, UK20,638 contributions
Mar 2020
Pretty underwhelming statue that relates to the defiance to the French troops by the people of San Sebastian, an information board would be helpful.
Written 13 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,520 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Although occupied, San Sebastian residents (donostiarras) made their discontent known. French troops occupying San Sebastian (Napoleonic era), wearing those uniforms now seen on this little drummer, would walk around town, drumming away. The women doing laundry at the common facilities took to mocking them by thumping on their laundry tubs. Thus was born this expression of Basque defiance.
Next to the Brexta Market is where this statue is located. The little French soldier with his drums is facing the sheet music written by the composer (the other part of the monument); it is the "March of San Sebastian" written by Sarriegi. One of my favorite lines is: "from now on, the hardships are gone ... we come to call the donostiarras ..." and so they do, call, that is. How befitting it is that this little French fellow should face his eternity looking at the liberation music of those who would not be subjugated.
This is a really, really big deal in San Sebastian. For 24 hours, the symbolic show of defiance is celebrated by people dressing in faux-French uniforms and common dress of the laundry women, as they parade hammering on drums or whatever. It starts at midnight on January 20th. It is the day the local people celebrate their patron saint.
Next to the Brexta Market is where this statue is located. The little French soldier with his drums is facing the sheet music written by the composer (the other part of the monument); it is the "March of San Sebastian" written by Sarriegi. One of my favorite lines is: "from now on, the hardships are gone ... we come to call the donostiarras ..." and so they do, call, that is. How befitting it is that this little French fellow should face his eternity looking at the liberation music of those who would not be subjugated.
This is a really, really big deal in San Sebastian. For 24 hours, the symbolic show of defiance is celebrated by people dressing in faux-French uniforms and common dress of the laundry women, as they parade hammering on drums or whatever. It starts at midnight on January 20th. It is the day the local people celebrate their patron saint.
Written 12 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil J
Canberra, Australia1,635 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
San Sebastián is a city of many sculptural pieces beyond just the landmark sculpture of Christ atop mount Urgull. Throughout the Old Town and the new are a number of pieces worth seeking out. Off the Plaza Sarriegi in the Old Town is this life sized bronze sculpture of a Napoleonic era military drummer looking upon the lyrics of local composer, Raimundo Sarriegui‘s ‘Marcha San Sebastián’ played annually during ‘La Tamborrada’ a short but intense festival wherein from midnight to midnight companies of perfectly uniformed marchers parade through the streets of San Sebastian playing drums and barrels in honor of their patron saint, the Donostia of San Sebastian. Well executed, locally significant and worth seeing.
Written 17 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Talant2007
Moscow, Russia26,852 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
The monument of the drummer was originally erected in a concrete version in 1964 in the center of San Sebastian, later during the reconstruction of 2002 replaced by a bronze replica.
Automatically translated
Written 26 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlos S
Lisbon, Portugal14,018 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
Danbor-jolearen Oroigarria-Monument to the Drummer -Donostia
Nice monument located Plaza Sarriegi-Sarriegi square. Monument dedicated to “Drummer
Nice monument located Plaza Sarriegi-Sarriegi square. Monument dedicated to “Drummer
Automatically translated
Written 24 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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