Lazarillo de Tormes is considered the ancestor of little scoundrels worldwide. He was born in Salamanca and the story of his life in servitude of a blind man, among others, was published in 1554 in a popular novel entitled "La Vida de Lazarillo de Tormes y de sus fortunas y adversidades". The Bronze statue stands in Salamanca, on the bank of the Rover Tormes, at the end of the Roman Bridge (Puente Romano). The statue stands near the Mudejar church of Santiago del Arrabal, a modern reproduction from 1980 of an original 12th century church. The Old City of Salamanca was declared a World Heritage Site in 1988.