Barcelona's Monument to Rafael Casanova: A Revolutionary Tribute

The Monument to Rafael Casanova is a sculpture located at the intersection of Ronda de Sant Pere and carrer d'Alí Bei in Barcelona, and is a local cultural asset of interest, catalogued as a testament to the city's rich history. Created by sculptor Rossend Nobas in 1888, the monument stands as an homage to Rafael Casanova i Comes, the last conseller en cap of Barcelona. Casanova, an influential figure in Catalonia's history, played a significant role during the War of Spanish Succession, a conflict from which this statue is a symbolic tribute to the Catalans who died during the Siege of Barcelona in 1714.

The statue represents Casanova dressed in a gramalla, a long tunic worn by consellers of Barcelona. He holds a banner of Santa Eulàlia with his left hand and a sword with his right. The statue's facial expression is known for its pathetic, romantic quality. The pedestal of the statue was designed by architect Alexandre Soler i March. The statue was placed on a pedestal containing the relief of Josep Llimona in 1914. The relief represents two female figures in profile with their hair gathered, one standing serenely and the other awakening.

An inscription on the back of the relief reads: 'Here fell wounded the conseller en cap Rafel de Casanova defending the liberties of Catalonia, 11th of September 1714'. On the upper back is the coat of arms of Barcelona, on the lower back is the cross of St. George, the coat of arms of St. Eulàlia, and the coat of arms of Catalonia.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons