Valle de los Caídos

Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen, is a monument and basilica in Spain built between 1940 and 1958, primarily to honor those who died during the Spanish Civil War. It features a massive cross overlooking the landscape and includes a crypt with the remains of Francisco Franco, the Francoist dictator. The site was controversial, seen by some as a memorial to national unity and by others as a symbol of oppressive dictatorship. In recent years, efforts have been made to reassess its significance, including debates about removing Franco’s remains and addressing its complex history.