Barcelona's Gràcia district is set to honour two significant cultural figures by naming previously unnamed public spaces after them. The Gràcia district plenary council has approved a formal proposal to the Nomenclátor Committee to name two areas in the Vallcarca i Penitents neighbourhood after the versatile singer-songwriter Luis Eduardo Aute and the iconic comic character Captain Trueno.
A Square for Spain's Comic Hero
The proposal for Captain Trueno, presented by Alejandro Monllaó, designates the square in front of the Can Carol neighbourhood centre. Captain Trueno, created in the 1950s by Víctor Mora, symbolises universal values such as solidarity, justice, and freedom. This location in Vallcarca has a direct historical link: the building now housing the El Coll - La Bruguera Civic Centre was once the headquarters of the legendary Bruguera publishing house, which produced many famous comic characters. This part of the initiative received unanimous support from all municipal groups.
Building on this consensus and the tribute to the world of illustration, PP councillor Ismael Bayarri called for the acceleration of the process to find a physical home for the future centre for the interpretation and study of illustration and comics. This long-awaited project is intended to house Bruguera's historical archive of original works.
Aute's Legacy in Gràcia
Separately, the gardens on Esteve Terradas street, next to Vallcarca avenue, will be dedicated to Luis Eduardo Aute. The district aims to recognise Aute's extensive career as a musician, poet, and painter, while also acknowledging his strong connection to Gràcia, where he spent part of his childhood. Unlike the unanimous agreement for Captain Trueno, Aute's candidacy generated some political debate and was not approved unanimously. The Junts municipal group voted against it.
Marc Ventura, a councillor for Junts, explained his opposition by arguing that other local figures who championed the Catalan language are currently on a waiting list and should be prioritised. Ventura suggested musicians like Jordi Fàbregas or Ovidi Montllor, noting that Montllor lived in the La Salut neighbourhood for nineteen years.
The Path to Final Approval
After passing this initial stage in the district plenary council, the future of these names now rests with Barcelona's Nomenclátor Committee. Following standard administrative procedure, this body will evaluate the suitability of both proposals. If the verdict is favourable, the names will be sent to the relevant municipal bodies for final approval, officially adding the hero and the poet to the city's street names.
