In Cuesta del Rosario Square of Seville stands a bronze statue of a young girl reading an oversized book titled Clara Campoamor. It honors the women’s rights activist, lawyer, and politician, Clara Campoamor, who led the fight for Spanish women voting rights. The Swedish artist Anne Jonsson created the monument, saying “My thoughts were, ‘How do you pay homage to a person you really admire? How do you get people to want to learn more about her?’ Typically, you would recommend a book by or about that person. So I created a girl in a space of her own, her room with toys and books.” The plaque on the bronze pedestal reads in Spanish: THE CITY OF SEVILLA IN MEMORY OF CLARA CAMPOAMOR FOR HER UNPARALLELED CONTRIBUTION TO THE FREEDOM OF WOMEN WHICH WAS HER FIGHT IS PART OF THE PRESENCE OF OUR RIGHTS. SEVILLA CITY HALL EQUALITY AREA GABIANA WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION SAN FERNANDO BANK AUTHOR ANNA JONSSON THIS WORK WAS AWARDED IN THE CONTEST SCULPTURE CAMPOAMOR HOUSE CELEBRATED IN ITS COMMEMORATION IN SEVILLA IN MARCH 2007 Clara Campoamor (1888-1972) was born into a working-class family in Madrid. Since she was 13, she worked in addition to her studies to support her mother and younger siblings. Later on, she worked as a teacher and journalist while becoming involved in the Madrid political scene. In her mid-30s, she became only the second woman to become a member of the Madrid Bar Association. In her private practice, she specialized in women’s and children’s issues, defending women’s rights in divorce and paternity cases, and fighting for child labor laws. Her activism work continued in the organizations she co-founded, such as the International Federation of Women Lawyers and the Spanish Women’s League for Peace. In 1931, upon the formation of the Second Spanish Republic, Campoamor was among the 21 deputies elected to draft the constitution. The inclusion of women’s voting rights in the constitution met with opposition from both sides of the Parliament, including members of her party, and ended her political career. With endless efforts and the support of women’s activists throughout the country, Campoamor managed to include in the new constitution the article that stated that “Citizens of either sex, over 23 years of age, will have the same rights elections as determined by law.” During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Campoamor had to leave the country and couldn’t return during the Franco regime. She settled in Switzerland and worked as a lawyer. She passed away in exile at the age of 84, never returning to her country. Another statue of Campoamor stands in San Sebastián and a bust of her stands in Madrid, Spain. Read more...

At Clara Campoamor Plaza stands an iron statue of Clara Campoamor holding a book that reads: One woman, One vote. It was sculptured by Dora Salazar and dedicated in 2011. The plaque on the ground before the statue reads: “Clara Rodriguez Campoamor (Madrid 1888 – Lausanne 1972) Buried in San Sebastian Achieved Women’s right to vote in 1931 Freedom and equality are learned by exercising them.” Clara Campoamor (1888-1972) was a women’s rights activist, leader of the Spanish suffrage movement, a feminist, and the second woman lawyer in Spain. Campoamor was born in Madrid to a working-class liberal-thinking family. To support her mother and siblings, she left school to work. In her twenties, she became involved in politics, joined numerous women’s groups, and published a political commentary in a liberal newspaper. At 36, she graduated from law school and became the second female lawyer in Spain. She established a private law practice, advocating and defending women’s rights on this platform. In 1931, Campoamor, 43 years old at the time, was one of 21 deputies elected to write the constitution of Spain’s Second Republic. She fought against sexual discrimination, women’s right to divorce, the legal equality of children born within and outside marriage, and women’s suffrage. To convince the party to include women’s rights to vote in the constitution, she became the first woman to address the Parliament’s plenary session in front of 470 men and one woman. Both sides of the Parliament opposed the idea of allowing women the equal right to vote. She left the party and continued advocating women’s rights as an independent assembly member. With endless efforts and the support of women’s activists throughout the country, Campoamor managed to include in the new constitution the article that stated that “Citizens of either sex, over 23 years of age, will have the same rights elections as determined by law.” She lost her parliament seat in the 1933 elections. In 1936, in the Spanish Civil War, Campoamor had to flee the country and ended up in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she worked as a lawyer. She died in exile at the age of 84. Read more...

In the heart of Madrid, in an intersection facing the west facade of the El Casón del Buen Retiro (one of the Spanish national art museum buildings), stands the monument to Maria Christina of Bourbon. Maria Christina of Bourbon, also known as Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1806-1878), was the daughter of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies and became the Queen of Spain in 1829 upon her marriage as the fourth wife to King Ferdinand VII of Spain. When the king died in 1833, she became regent for their daughter Isabella who became Queen Isabella II in 1844. The monument consists of a larger-than-life bronze statue of Maria Christina standing atop a polygonal stone pedestal. Her right-hand holds the Royal Statute, which made her regent for her daughter Isabella till she was of age to become the queen, while her left holds her mantle. It was designed by the architect Miguel Aguado and the sculptor Mariano Benlliure and was dedicated on June 25th, 1893. On the basement of the statue, inscribed are some of her achievements: “Conservatorio de Música” (Conservatory of Music), “Decreto de Amnistía” (Amnesty Decree), “Ministerio de Fomento” (Ministry of Development); “Estatuto de 1834” (Statute of 1834); “Ciencias, Artes y Oficios” (Sciences, Arts and Crafts), “Convención de Vergara” (Convention of Vergara), “Universidades del Reyno” (Universities of the Kingdom), as well as a marble sited statue of a female figure which represents an allegory of History, holding a book that reads “Historia” (History). Nearby is the famous Museo del Prado. Admission is free two hours before closing. Read more...

In April and May of 1950, the rising movie star Ava Gardner (1922-1990) and the crew of Pandora and the Flying Dutchman filmed on Tossa de Mar, a tiny fishing village on the Costa Brava. Gardner fell in love with Spain, and the locals adored her and showed her their love. The gossip was that while Gardner was engaged to Frank Sinatra, she was having an affair with Mario Cabré, a Catalan actor, poet, and bullfighter. Sinatra heard the rumors and flew from the US to the village to check the rumors, carrying an emerald necklace and a large quantity of Coca-Cola. At the end of the shooting, Gardner returned to the US and married Sinatra. Eight years after Gardner passed away, the sculptor Ció Abellí unveiled a true-to-size bronze statue of her dressed as Pandora. It stands on the Vila Vella, the best viewpoint in town. It immediately became a popular tourist attraction, where people arrive to take a picture while hugging her and enjoy the view. Read more...