Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree facts for kids
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| Coordinates | 40°25′01″N 3°42′09″W / 40.417°N 3.7024°W |
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| Location | Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain |
| Designer | Antonio Navarro Santafé |
| Type | Statue |
| Material | Stone and bronze |
| Height | 4 metres (13 ft) |
| Opening date | 19 January 1967 |
The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (in Spanish, “El Oso y el Madroño”) is a famous sculpture in Madrid, Spain. It was made in the second half of the 1900s. This statue shows the official symbol of the city. You can find it on the east side of the Puerta del Sol square, right in the heart of Madrid. It stands between two streets: Calle de Alcalá and Carrera de San Jerónimo.
History of the Statue
This statue was created by the sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé (1906-1983). It was officially shown to the public on January 19, 1967. The City Council wanted to create a monument that showed the main symbols of Madrid.
The first time a wild bear and a strawberry tree appeared on Madrid's official symbol was in the 1200s. Before that, the symbol only had a bear walking. The change was made to show an agreement between the city leaders and the church leaders. They had been arguing for a long time about who owned the pastures (grasslands) and trees around Madrid. After the agreement, the church got the pastures, and the city council got the trees. This is why they changed the symbol to include a strawberry tree and a bear leaning on it.
The sculpture has always been in the Puerta del Sol square, but its exact spot has changed twice. Before 1986, it was on the east side of the square. In 1986, it was moved to the front of Carmen Street because the square was being updated. This change was led by Mayor Enrique Tierno Galván. Then, in September 2009, the square was renovated again by Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón. The statue was moved back to its original spot on the east side.
What the Statue Looks Like
The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree is made from stone and bronze. It is very heavy, weighing about 22 tons (which is 20,000 kilograms!). It stands 13 feet (4 meters) tall. The statue sits on a stepped base made of granite.
The statue shows the official symbol of Madrid in a real-life way. The strawberry tree is taller than the bear. The bear has its paws on the tree trunk and looks up at one of the fruits.
See also
In Spanish: Estatua del Oso y el Madroño para niños
