Statue of Francisco Franco, Bronze military statue near Plaza de España, Melilla, Spain
The bronze sculpture portrayed a figure in military dress uniform and stood in a prominent public location where passersby encountered it regularly. The representation was rendered in a realistic style typical of monuments from that era.
The monument was created in 1978 by a sculptor and remained the last public representation of this kind on Spanish territory until its removal in 2021. The inscription focused on the subject's military service in Melilla during the 1920s rather than later political developments.
The monument became a focal point for public debate about how Spain presents its military history in shared spaces, particularly significant in a city with colonial ties.
The site was easily accessible and located in a busy area near other attractions where visitors could reach it without difficulty. Since the monument is no longer present, one finds an open space or alternative marker at the location today.
The monument deliberately emphasized the subject's military service in Melilla from the 1920s rather than the broader political narrative, setting it apart from similar representations. This narrow focus allowed it to remain standing longer than comparable monuments elsewhere in Spain.
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