The family of sculptor Juan de Ávalos has sent a letter to the San Miguel Arcángel Association denying that their work on Avenida de Anaga is a tribute to the dictator. The artist's son asserts that the figure represents an Angel of Peace.
The sculptural monument on Avenida de Anaga, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, was not conceived as a tribute to Francisco Franco. This has been stated in writing by Juan Ávalos Carballo, son of sculptor Juan de Ávalos and president of the foundation that bears his name. The document, sent to the Association for the Research and Protection of Historical Heritage San Miguel Arcángel, dismantles the official interpretation that led to the inclusion of the work in the catalogue of Francoist vestiges.
An angel of peace, not a political symbol
In the letter, dated July 1, 2026, in Madrid, Juan Ávalos Carballo explains that the central figure of the ensemble is a Angel of Peace presenting the cross of Christ as a wish and offering. The original title of the work, according to the foundation's documentation, is Monument to Peace.
The sculptor's son emphasizes that at no time did the symbolism of the monument intend to pay homage to General Franco. He adds that all of his father's work is characterized by its distancing from warlike representations and its continuous proclamation in favour of peace and reconciliation among Spaniards.
That at no time the symbolism of the monument was a tribute to General Don Francisco Franco Bahamonde. That the figure represented there is an Angel of Peace presenting the cross of Christ as a wish and offering.
A conflict with the historical memory law
The monument, the work of the distinguished sculptor Juan de Ávalos, had been included by the authorities in the catalogue of Francoist vestiges with the intention of removing it from public view. The decision, based on the historical memory law, generated intense debate about the meaning of the work and its possible political charge.
The San Miguel Arcángel Association, dedicated to the protection of historical heritage, requested information from the Juan de Ávalos Foundation to clarify the origin and intention of the monument. The family's response has been emphatic: the work is not a tribute to Franco, but an allegory of peace.
Juan Ávalos Carballo, who worked closely with his father on the design of the complementary architecture of the ensemble (pillars and fountain), also offers the possibility of having a former collaborator of the studio certify the same data.
What will happen now with the monument?
The letter from the Juan de Ávalos Foundation represents a turning point in the process. Now, public administrations must decide whether to maintain the monument's classification as a Francoist vestige or whether, in light of the new evidence, to remove it from the list. The final decision rests with the Government of the Canary Islands and the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which are the institutions responsible for managing local heritage.
For the residents of the capital of Tenerife, the monument on Avenida de Anaga is a familiar element of the urban landscape. Its possible removal had generated divided opinions, with defenders of historical memory considering it a symbol of Francoism and others valuing it as an independent artistic work. The clarification from the Ávalos family provides a strong argument for those opposing its removal.
The Juan de Ávalos Foundation has made available to the authorities the documentation that certifies the original meaning of the work. It remains to be seen whether ideological blindness, as the letter warns, is still willing to destroy culture or if the truth prevails over propaganda.
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