Minerva, Bronze monument in Tossa de Mar, Spain
Minerva is a five-meter tall bronze sculpture standing on a pedestal made of regular stone blocks across from the beach at Tossa de Mar. It sits visible from the waterfront promenade and overlooks the coastal area.
Sculptor Frederic Marès created the statue in 1979 as a replacement for an earlier project that was meant to honor Vitalis, owner of the Roman villa of Ametllers. This change reflected a shift in plans for the public space at this location.
The statue depicts the Roman goddess with classical war symbols like helmet, shield, and spear, shown on the stone pedestal below. The Latin inscription on the metal plaque honors this ancient figure that remains part of the local imagination.
The monument is visible at any time during daylight hours and sits near the beach promenade where the GR 92 long-distance hiking trail connects to neighboring coastal towns. Access is straightforward and the area is easy to reach on foot.
The monument faced local resistance when it was erected, leading to incidents where paint was thrown on the sculpture before its official inauguration. These protests revealed strong feelings about which figures should stand in this public space.
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