Plan to transform Franco monument
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A plan to convert a monument to Spain’s fascist dictator Francisco Franco into a cemetery for the dead on both sides of the Spanish Civil War forms part of a government initiative aimed at confronting the legacy of the Franco era

Franco: Ruled Spain with iron fist after end of 1936-39 civil war until his death in 1975. He was buried inside vast basilica drilled into granite mountain 50km north of Madrid. Remains exhumed and moved to low-key grave in cemetery near Madrid in 2019

VALLEY OF THE FALLEN
Built between 1941 and 1959 to commemorate civil war victims, resting place of more than 30,000 soldiers on both sides.
Loathed by many as monument to fascist victory – political prisoners forced to help build it
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150m stone cross features symbols of Franco’s ideology
Lift to cross
Santa Cruz Basilica
Basilica esplanade
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BURIALS
21,317 identified 
12,530 identity unknown
Total: 33,847

War victims exhumed from mass graves across Spain between 1959 and 1983 and reburied in Valley of the Fallen, many without families’ knowledge

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Madrid
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Entrance
SANTA CRUZ BASILICA
Location of burials
Atrium
Central nave
Franco’s former tomb

Grave of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of Spain’s fascist Falange party. Plans for remains to be relocated
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260m
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PROVISIONS OF DEMOCRATIC MEMORY BILL (Subject to parliamentary approval) 
Condemn 1936 coup that triggered civil war and declare void all summary trials held in Francoist Spain

Create national DNA bank to help identify 140,000 people who “disappeared” and excavate around 2,500 mass graves

Impose fines of up to €150,000 for non-compliance, close foundation set up
in Franco’s memory, and “update” history curriculums in schools
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Pictures: Google Earth, Pablo Forcén Soler, Newscom, AP
Sources: Patrimonio Nacional, Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, El País © GRAPHIC NEWS