Bust of Rafael Rivero - Jerez de la Frontera - Andalusia

The memorial consists of a bronze bust with a simple inscription on a monolith. The sculptor was the Italian Augusto Franzi and the base was made by Joaquín Vargas from Jerez.

Next to the Albereda Cristina is the Puerta de Sevilla. Behind this gate was and is a square that served to defend the main entrance to Jerez de la Frontera and as a checkpoint for it.

This square is now called Rafael Rivero Square , which originated in one of his palace houses in 1800 . For this reason, two years after his death, on October 17, 1883, a bust was placed in the center of the square to commemorate the man nicknamed "Vader of the People" for his many charitable contributions during his various tenures as mayor became .

Rafael Rivero de la Tixera became mayor in 1854 following the rise of the local bourgeoisie , enriched by the sherry that it exported almost entirely to the Anglo-Saxon Empire. But even as a member of one of the wealthiest families in the area, he aspired to transform Jerez into a livable city and to improve the miserable living conditions of its citizens .

His main accomplishments were in the areas of charity and housing, but he is remembered for three other significant accomplishments.
Construction of the Tempul Aqueduct was completed, which provided the city with acceptable quality drinking water.
He promoted the construction of the Jerez-Trocadero railway line , the first in Andalusia and the third in Spain. The station is still as it was originally built and this line served to speed up the transport of wine casks to the portal where they were sent to England, increasing the companies' profits but at the same time increasing passenger traffic. between Jerez and made the bay possible.
He founded Monte de Piedad , which would eventually become the first savings bank in Andalusia under the name of Caixa d'Estalvis de Jerez, now Cajasol.

The memorial consists of a bronze bust with a simple inscription on a monolith. The sculptor was the Italian Augusto Franzi and the base was made by Joaquín Vargas from Jerez.

Willem Vandenameele