Emilio Vilanova

Sculptor: Pere Carbonell, signed
Architect: Bonaventura Bassegoda
Materials: White marble on column made of stone from Montjuïc
Inauguration: May 9, 1908

In the same week of May 1908, they were inaugurated in the Ciutadella Park two busts of Catalan writers: Manuel Milà i Fontanals and Emili Vilanova. The idea was intended to highlight the fiftieth anniversary of the Floral Games of Barcelona, ​​refurbished in 1859. The bust of costumbrista author Emili Vilanova (Barcelona, ​​1840-1905) was the sculptor Pere Carbonell work and the pedestal that held it was the architect Bonaventura Bassegoda, author of statues of Barcelona, ​​one of the first books on Barcelona's monuments. The dedication speech was the work of the playwright Àngel Guimerà, who in his text asking the mayor, Albert Bastardas, the acogiera willingly. Explicitly wanted to emphasize that Bastardas, who had been elected in his day as a councilor, represented the popular will not mayors royal order, handpicked, which lasted until 1918. "want-you received you, Mr. Mayor, to who has made the Catalan Providence right now, by the votes of the citizens and not by any desire most, represents the city of Barcelona ". The monument was installed in the shelter of the old palace of the Governor of Ciudadela Park, now Verdaguer Institute. Time has deteriorated part of the pedestal.