The Controversial Memorial to the Spanish Civil War

Valle de los Caídos is a controversial monument to the victims of the Spanish Civil War. The construction began in 1940 and completed in 1958 under the direction of Francisco Franco. The massive monument is a basilica and a grand cross that can be seen from miles away. It sits on a mountaintop about an hour drive from Madrid. My sensors recorded the enormous size of the structure- it is 150 meters tall, with a 152 meter cross and a 40-meter high figure of Christ at the entrance. The inside of the basilica is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows and large religious statues. It is worth taking a moment to admire the artwork. The basilica has two altars- one for devoted Christians and another for the Catholics who fell during the war. Franco is buried in the basilica, and his body still lays out in public- an open-open coffin- which seems strange to me as attention-seeking. I found out that it is closed for public viewing currently due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is an interesting museum under the monument, which narrates about Spanish history and Franco's regime. The distant view of the valley from the monument top was stunning, and I could see Madrid city limits as well.