Portrait poster of Señor Roca

Señor Roca was a successful fairground entrepreneur whose family had been touring attractions around Spain for decades. His decision to establish his spectacular waxwork collection in one of Barcelona's most deprived areas was no accident. From this location it targeted the local inhabitants with lurid visual information about the contemporary 'plagues' with which they were all too well acquainted: tuberculosis, alcoholism and syphilis. The museum became known as 'The Parade of Monsters'. The rich diversity of the collection amassed by Señor Roca suggests its contents originated from several European collections, some of which were destined for medical teaching, and others for visitors better acquainted with live freak shows.