In this peculiar spot in Ambite, where stories and secrets intertwine as travellers come and go, stands a monument like no other you have seen before: the Monumento a los Ojos (Monument to the Eyes), the work of all-round artist Federico Díaz. An adventurer at heart and journalist by profession, Díaz left his mark here in his birthplace, demonstrating his great curiosity and passion for capturing the essence of the world through our eyes.
Built between the 1960s and 70s, this architectural structure features three arches, each covered with tiles that represent windows into different perspectives and thoughts. These meticulously crafted tiles present a gallery of gazes, ideas, symbols and phrases from a diverse range of figures such as Rubinstein, Armstrong, Machado, Chaplin, even historical figures such as Cleopatra, and references to iconic places such as Barcelona.
Walking through these arches is like flicking through the pages of a visual diary that captures countless aspects of the human experience. Each tile was created through the enthusiasm and passion of Díaz, who worked closely with Rafael García Bodas, a renowned tile maker from Talavera. Together, they explored all the aspects that inspired the artist and depicted them in ceramic, thus immortalising them in this unique space.
To visit the Monument to the Eyes is to embark on a visual journey, where each glance offers its own story, thought or emotion. This place is more than just a landmark; it represents an ongoing dialogue between art and the observer, a dialogue that invites you to reflect on how we see the world and how the world sees us.
Bridges, Fountains, Dams and Mills
Our fountains represent a major part of our heritage and demonstrate the great number of aquifers in the area.
Some of these fountains are found in the town centre: La Fuente del Estanquillo, La Fuente del León and La Fuente de Mediodía. Outside the centre you can find La Fuente del Robledillo and La Fuente del Arca, an ancient fountain where the first people in this municipality settled.
There are also other works of hydraulic engineering that we can visit as we walk through the municipality, including: the Presa Árabe (Arab Dam), the neoclassical Puente de los Cinco Ojos (Bridge of the Five Eyes) from 1756 which goes over the River Tajuña, the Molino del Fraile (Friar’s Mill), and Molino del Puente del Río (River Bridge Mill), and this Puente de los Once Ojos (Bridge of the Eleven Eyes) from the 19th century.
These structures are traces of the history shared between the people from these lands and the River Tajuña, which has generously watered this landscape since ancient times.
