Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, Stone and bronze statue at Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain
The Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree is a work made from stone and bronze at Puerta del Sol in Madrid, Spain. The sculpture stands on a granite pedestal and depicts an animal rising on its hind legs to reach for fruit in a tree.
The symbol of the bear first appeared on Madrid's flag in 1212 when troops carried it during the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. The current sculpture was installed centuries later and has become a permanent fixture of the square.
The motif comes from the city coat of arms and was chosen after a 1222 agreement between church and municipal authorities over land rights. The design shows an animal reaching for fruit and now serves as a favorite meeting spot where locals arrange to gather beneath the monument.
The monument stands at the eastern end of Puerta del Sol square and can be reached easily on foot from all directions. The area can get busy during the day and evening, so it helps to bring some patience for a photo.
The fruit of the madroño tree depicted in the sculpture contains small amounts of alcohol when ripe. This characteristic of the plant makes the tree an unusual symbol for a capital city.
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