14/07/2016. The ruins of houses and churches stand on July 14, 2016 at Old Belchite village, in Aragon province, Spain. Before Franco's coup on 18 July 1936, Belchite village had a socialist mayor. Within a few days Franco's forces arrested Belchite's government. The battle of Belchite took place on 24 August to 7 September 1937, during the Spanish Civil War confronting left wing Republicans and right wing General Franco's forces, until the Republicans conquered the village. On March 1938, Franco's regime took control of Belchite again after approximately 30 bombings with the help of Italian's war planes. The result of these battles and bombings was a devastated village and over three thousands deaths. Then Franco ordered to leave the ruins untouched, as a living monument of war, and started to build the New Belchite village just beside. (© Pablo Blazquez)