Fuente: ABC

Today, April 14, marks 84 years since the arrival of the II Republic. There is no doubt, the Second Republic is one of the key moments in contemporary Spanish history. In 1931, a great project for the democratization and modernization of our country was opened. It raised many hopes in broad sections of the Spanish population and came to an abrupt halt with our bloody Civil War.

We do not have too many elements left that remind us of the Second Republic in Madrid, Franco's Dictatorship was in charge of removing the insignia of that time, just as, it must be said, what the Republicans did with the emblems of Primo de Rivera.

However, we can still notice some curious elements of the furniture and ornamentation of Madrid that remind us of the Republic.

We will begin with a lamppost located in the monarchical heart of the city, next to the Royal Palace. Discovering it is only within the reach of the initiated.

The Republicans changed the monarchical crown in the coat of arms of Madrid for a civic or crenellated crown and eliminated the Bourbon fleurs-de-lis. This can also be seen in this streetlight.

We can also find these same modifications on shields, some located in the Bank of Spain or Atocha station.

Luckily there are also some clearer elements, such as the Cabestreros Fountain in Lavapiés that allows us to read it explicitly.

Source: Marabilias

It is a pity that the subsequent regime took charge of eliminating its traces with such determination, although not only in the Franco era, in much more recent times, in full democracy, the King's Gate with their republican shields.

We cannot forget that some of its main features such as Popular Sovereignty, the Right to Education and an Extensive Declaration of Civil Rights and Freedoms are today, for us, the basis of our democracy.

A abrazo.