Anselm Clavé's Tomb - Cementiri del Poblenou

Lluís Domènech i Montaner and his associate and friend Josep Vilaseca had only been qualified as architects for a year when they won the competition held by Barcelona City Council in 1874 to build a funerary monument to the musician, poet and politician Josep Anselm Clavé, who had died that same year. It was the first architectural project by the young Domènech i Montaner and Vilaseca Casanovas (who went on to design the popular Barcelona landmark, the Arc del Triomf) and was dedicated in 1876. It is located in the monumental cemetery in Poblenou and its initial design was a compendium of different styles of art: Renaissance, Egyptian, neo-Gothic and even Japanese. Domènech i Montaner designed the decorative wrought-iron railings around the tomb, with their medieval motifs and Barcelona Provincial Council's coat of arms in the centre. Manuel Fuxà Leal sculpted the bust of Clavé. The tomb deteriorated over the years as a result of the weather and in 1930 plans were announced to restore and rebuild it.

However, the project never came to fruition and the tomb suffered serious damage during the Spanish Civil War. Eventually, the marble mason Roberto Passani was entrusted with its restoration, which was carried out between 1948 and 1950. He made a replica of Fuxà's original bust and the column. The railings are the 19th-century originals by Domènech i Montaner. If you visit the tomb on All Saints' Day (1st November), you will be able to see the homage in memory of Anselm Clavé which is held on this date every year. The event brings together different groups and choral societies from all over Catalonia who leave floral tributes.