Monument a Rafael Casanova

The Monument a Rafael Casanova is a bronze statue standing on Ronda de Sant Pere in Barcelona, one of the city centre's most recognisable landmarks of Catalan history.

Who does the monument depict?

The figure honours Rafael Casanova (1660–1743), a Barcelona lawyer who in 1714 held the office of conseller en cap, the city's highest civic authority, roughly equivalent to a modern mayor. Casanova led the defence of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession, when the city was besieged by the troops of Philip V.

What happened on 11 September 1714?

On that day, at a decisive moment of the siege, Casanova seized the banner of Saint Eulalia and led his men in a counterattack aimed at retaking the Sant Pere bastion. He was wounded in the fighting and forced to withdraw from the battlefield. Hours later Barcelona surrendered, ending a siege that had lasted nearly fourteen months. The date later became Catalonia's National Day, marked every year on 11 September.

Who created the statue, and when?

The figure was made by Catalan sculptor Rossend Nobas for Barcelona's 1888 Universal Exhibition. Larger than life-size, it shows Casanova at the moment of his wounding — a pained expression on his face, a sword in one hand and the banner of Saint Eulalia in the other. It originally stood on Passeig de Sant Joan, the avenue leading to the exhibition grounds in the Ciutadella Park.

Why does the monument stand on Ronda de Sant Pere?

In 1914, on the two-hundredth anniversary of the fall of Barcelona, the city council decided to move the statue to Ronda de Sant Pere — the spot where Casanova is said to have been wounded during his counterattack. For the occasion, the figure was set on a new stone pedestal designed by sculptor Josep Llimona, giving the monument the form it retains today.

What does the monument mean to Barcelona today?

In Catalonia, Rafael Casanova is regarded as a national hero associated with resistance to the centralising rule of the Bourbon king Philip V. Every year on the Diada, 11 September, representatives of Catalan institutions, political parties and civic organisations lay flowers at the foot of the statue. For decades the site has remained one of the symbolic focal points of Catalan national identity.

Where exactly is the monument, and how do you get there?

The monument stands at the junction of Ronda de Sant Pere and Passeig de Sant Joan, in the Eixample district, close to the Arc de Triomf and the Ciutadella Park. The nearest metro stations are Arc de Triomf (line L1) and Urquinaona (lines L1 and L4), both a few minutes' walk away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Rafael Casanova? He was a Barcelona lawyer and the city's chief civic officer (conseller en cap), who led the defence of Barcelona during the 1714 siege in the War of the Spanish Succession.

When was the monument made and who designed it? The statue was sculpted by Rossend Nobas for Barcelona's 1888 Universal Exhibition; sculptor Josep Llimona added the stone pedestal in 1914 when the monument was moved to its current site.

Why are flowers laid at the monument on 11 September? That date is Catalonia's National Day, marking the fall of Barcelona in 1714. Casanova, wounded while defending the city, became a symbol of the event, so politicians and organisations pay tribute at the monument every year.

How do you reach the monument by public transport? The metro is the easiest option — Arc de Triomf (L1) or Urquinaona (L1, L4) stations are both just a few minutes' walk from Ronda de Sant Pere.