Don Mateo
Don Mateo is a moustachioed dwarf holding a funnel-shaped horn at Plac Solny 16, made by Marlena Zakrzewska; wromap.pl lists him as Salvador (Don Mateo), unveiled 2 September 2023.
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Don Mateo
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Story
Don Mateo has the air of a gentleman with a flourish. In the photo he wears a small pointed cap, a bow tie and a smart jacket, his moustache curls upward, and one hand holds up a large funnel-shaped horn as if he is about to announce something to the Salt Square. Behind him are iron railings and a worn stone step. Stop by and listen: whatever he is about to announce, the dwarfs next door will already have heard.
History & Significance
Wromap.pl lists the dwarf as 'Salvador (Don Mateo)' at Plac Solny 16, about 240 m from the centre of the Market Square, by sculptor Marlena Zakrzewska, appearing on 2 September 2023. The app calls him Don Mateo; the two names probably refer to the same dwarf, since both sit 46 m from Krasnal Polskiego Expressu, but no source explains how he got both. I could not find his sponsor or story. The tradition behind Wrocław's dwarfs began with the Orange Alternative, a playful protest movement of the 1980s whose members painted dwarfs on city walls; since 2005 the city has filled its streets with bronze dwarfs, and there are now hundreds of them.
Inspiration
The sources I found do not say what inspired Salvador, or Don Mateo, or who commissioned him, so no story is claimed. What you can see is an elegantly dressed dwarf with an upturned moustache holding a large funnel-shaped horn.
Fun Facts
- The app calls him Don Mateo, while wromap.pl lists him as Salvador (Don Mateo).
- He holds a big funnel- or horn-shaped object in one raised hand.
- His moustache curls upwards at the ends.
- Marlena Zakrzewska made him; wromap.pl dates him to 2 September 2023.
- Krasnal Polskiego Expressu, from the same sculptor, is only 46 m away.
How to Find This Dwarf
Don Mateo stands at Plac Solny 16, at pavement level by iron railings and a stone step. Krasnal Polskiego Expresu is 46 m north, Długi is 46 m north and Giełduś is 47 m north, and the whole group of dwarfs is clustered along the same stretch of the square.
Nearby Dwarfs
See all Wrocław dwarfs on the dwarf list
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Don Mateo in Wrocław?
At Plac Solny 16 in the Old Town, near Krasnal Polskiego Expressu.
Is Don Mateo the same as Salvador?
Wromap.pl lists a dwarf called 'Salvador (Don Mateo)' at the same address and spot, so they are almost certainly the same dwarf, but no source explains the two names.
Who made Don Mateo?
Wromap.pl credits sculptor Marlena Zakrzewska and dates him to 2 September 2023.
Accessibility
Ground LevelOutdoor
Pavement level, no steps needed to see him. I could not confirm the surface along the square.
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