What does the monument represent?

The monument portrays the official heraldic symbols that form the coat of arms of Madrid.

Who sculpted the monument?

The sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé created the work for the Madrid city council.

Why are a bear and a strawberry tree associated with Madrid?

The figures originated from an agreement dividing local property between the city council and the clergy, assigning trees to the council and pastures to the church.

Where does the statue stand in Madrid?

The statue stands on the eastern side of Puerta del Sol in the historical centre of Madrid.

Is touching the bear part of local Madrid tradition?

Touching the heel or tail is a habit adopted by tourists for good luck, without roots in traditional Madrid culture.

Madrid · Spain

Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Long-term residents treat the bronze figure on Puerta del Sol as a standard landmark for central appointments, learning to bypass the constant pedestrian crush between Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo.

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About the place

This bronze monument embodies the municipal heraldry of Madrid at the eastern edge of Puerta del Sol.

Sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé created the work for the municipal council to display the civic emblem in public space. The heraldic composition originates from an early legal agreement between the city council and the local clergy regarding communal resources. The church retained ownership of grazing pastures, while the municipality secured the trees, prompting the addition of the strawberry tree and the rearing bear.

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Urban renovations repeatedly shifted the monument across Puerta del Sol. Mayor Enrique Tierno Galván moved the statue toward Calle del Carmen during square remodeling, and later municipal works under Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón returned it to the eastern side near Calle de Alcalá. Visitors frequently rub the bronze tail and heel for luck, causing surface discoloration despite the complete absence of any local folklore tradition.

Associations

Puerta del SolForms a central landmark between Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo.
Coat of armsRepresents the official municipal heraldry chosen by the city council.
Bronze rubbingSuperstitious rubbing causes visible discoloration on the tail and heel.

Facts

The sculpture represents the official coat of arms adopted by the city council of Madrid.
A legal settlement dividing pasture land and timber between the clergy and the municipality determined the heraldic design.
The monument stood near Calle del Carmen before returning to the eastern side of Puerta del Sol between Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo.
Rubbing the tail or heel of the bear is an imported tourist habit that causes metal discoloration without any historical basis in local tradition.

Updated September 10, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around33

This bronze monument embodies the municipal heraldry of Madrid at the eastern edge of Puerta del Sol.

Getting there and staying

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