Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree
Monument Iconic Madrid statue symbolizing the city's coat of arms
Bronze statue of a bear and a strawberry tree at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, a civic emblem. Tourists use it as a meeting point and photo stop amid central shops and plazas.
The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (El Oso y el Madroño) is a bronze figure group located in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and represents the heraldic symbol that appears on the city’s coat of arms.
The sculpture depicts a bear rearing up to a strawberry tree and is one of Madrid’s most recognisable urban symbols and photo spots.
Created in the 20th century by sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé, the work was installed as a public monument to the city’s emblem and is frequently used as a rendezvous point.
The statue sits in the pedestrianised central square of Puerta del Sol in the Community of Madrid.
- Location and use: The statue stands in Puerta del Sol and functions as a well known meeting point and photographic landmark in central Madrid, very close to the Sol metro station.
How to Get to Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree #
Puerta del Sol is in central Madrid and is directly served by Madrid Metro lines 1, 2, and 3 at Sol station; numerous city buses stop nearby. It is a short walk from Gran Vía and Plaza Mayor.
Tips for Visiting Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree #
- Visit Puerta del Sol early in the morning to photograph the statue with fewer people - around 7-8am on weekdays is often quiet.
- Look for the plaque giving the bear's history; locals often leave small coins in the statue's immediate vicinity as a light-hearted ritual.
Best Time to Visit Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree #
Spring and early autumn are best for comfortable walking; summer can be very hot and crowded.
Weather & Climate near Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree #
Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 32°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 10°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (33 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 5°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall.
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 32°C and lows of 18°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
August
August is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 11 mm and mostly sunny skies.
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Light rainfall.
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 55 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and partly cloudy skies.