A TRAGIC NUMBER OF SOLDIERS perished on both sides during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s. As both a burial monument and as a memorial church, the epic Valley of the Fallen Valle de los CaààÃâàÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâàÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃâÃÂdos was created by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, and despite its intended purpose, many still see it as a symbol of the despotââ¬â¢s abuse of power.
The monumental complex is built on and into the slopes of a Spanish mountain range and features a number of components. The courtyard is spread out at the base of the mountain in a wide arc featuring grand porticoes, while the church proper is actually built into the hillside. Topping off the entire affair is the colossal 500-foot 152-meter cross that extends from the tip of the mountaintop. This too features titanic figures hewn into its base, and can be seen for dozens of miles around.
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