The article analyzes, from a historical and anthropological perspective, the phenomenon of demonumentalization in Spain and Chile in the period 2019-2021, focusing on the monuments of Christopher Columbus, Pedro de Valdivia and Manuel Baquedano. Based on the review of documentary, bibliographic and press sources, and the conduct of interviews, the study shows that the dynamics of intervention and heritage destruction between Chile and Spain have differences, contradictions and asymmetries. It is evident that while the demonumentalization processes in Spain have been more attached to peaceful intervention and dialogue with political institutions through the request for the removal of certain colonial and slave monuments, in Chile the battle against colonialist monuments has been generated in contexts of strong social conflict, acting outside of institutional decisions and permanently exceeding legality