Barcelona's Gràcia district council has approved proposals to name two public spaces in the Vallcarca i els Penitents neighbourhood after singer-songwriter Luis Eduardo Aute and the iconic comic character Capitán Trueno. This initiative aims to honour cultural figures who have left a lasting impact on generations, according to technical councillor Alejandro Monllaó.
The proposal seeks to recognise Aute's artistic career as a musician, poet, and painter, as well as his childhood connection to Gràcia. The chosen location for Aute is the gardens on Esteve Terradas Street, near Vallcarca Avenue. Capitán Trueno, a popular Spanish comic character created in the 1950s by Víctor Mora, will have a square in front of the Can Carol neighbourhood centre named after him.
The former headquarters of the Bruguera publishing house, which produced Capitán Trueno comics, is now the Centre Cívic el Coll – la Bruguera. Monllaó highlighted the universal values of solidarity, justice, and freedom that Capitán Trueno represents. The proposal to name the square after Capitán Trueno received unanimous support from all municipal groups.
Debate Over Naming Choices
However, the naming of a space after Luis Eduardo Aute did not pass unanimously. The Junts municipal group voted against it. Junts councillor Marc Ventura explained their opposition, stating that other figures who supported the Catalan language, such as musicians Jordi Fàbregas and Ovidi Montllor, are also awaiting recognition. Montllor, for example, lived in the La Salut neighbourhood for 19 years, Ventura noted.
In addition, PP councillor Ismael Bayarri used the opportunity to call for faster progress on establishing a centre for the interpretation and study of illustration and comics. This centre, which is expected to house the Bruguera originals archive, has been pending for several years, according to Bayarri.
Following the district council's approval, the Nomenclàtor Committee will now evaluate the suitability of both proposed names. After this assessment, the names will proceed to the relevant municipal bodies for final approval.
