Monument a Rafael Casanova, Bronze statue at Ronda de Sant Pere, Barcelona, Spain.
The Monument a Rafael Casanova is a bronze sculpture in the Dreta de l'Eixample neighborhood of Barcelona, set on a stone base with carved reliefs. The figure holds a sword and a banner and stands at a busy street corner, surrounded by the typical buildings of the Eixample grid.
The monument was unveiled in 1888 to honor Rafael Casanova, the city councilor of Barcelona who led the defense of the city during the siege of 1714. After that event, Catalonia lost much of its self-governance, which gives the monument a lasting political weight.
Every year on September 11, the Catalan national day, people lay flowers and wreaths at the base of the monument to honor Rafael Casanova. This gesture repeats year after year, making the spot a living meeting point for those celebrating Catalan identity.
The monument stands at an easily accessible street corner in the Eixample and can be reached on foot without difficulty. Anyone passing by on September 11 should expect larger crowds and floral displays around the base.
During the Franco dictatorship the monument was dismantled and kept hidden for decades, before returning to its original spot in 1977, shortly after the dictator's death. It was only at that point that September 11 could be publicly observed again as the Catalan national day.
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