Puerta del Sol, which means “Gate of the Sun,” is a central public square in Madrid. This bear sculpture is located in Puerta del Sol, and the bear is reaching up to what is described as a strawberry tree, but what is the significance of this imagery in relation to Spain? It’s not just seen in this sculpture, it’s a familiar image that pops up throughout the city, and is included in Madrid’s coat of arms. A little research finds me with the following explanation: back in the 13th century, there were walls that surrounded the area around the royal palace, and outside of those walls were vast forests, which were populated with bears, among other animals. The royal family had hunting parties out in the forests, and bears were a common target. As for the tree, the explanation is that, just like the bear, this rather shrub-like tree was found throughout the forests around Madrid, and the bear is up on his hind legs, hoping to find some fruit to eat.
Digging further, it seems that in 1222, an image of a bear and a tree was included as a seal on a decree by King Alfonso VIII, which was written to end a dispute over land rights between the church and the city council. King Alfonso VIII diplomatically proposed that the forest, represented by the strawberry tree, would be the property of the city, and that the animals and the plains, represented by the bear, would be the property of the church. This decree was accepted by both church and city, and therefore resulted in the symbol being adopted by the city of Madrid as an official emblem.
This particular sculpture was created by Antonio Navarro Santafé and dedicated in 1967. Santafé, born in Valencia in 1906, was an art teacher in addition to being a sculptor.
Here’s another look at the bear and the strawberry tree, as seen on a door at a restaurant called Fatigas del Querer on Calle de la Cruz in Madrid. I took this photo not so much because of the bear and the tree, but rather my interest in the visual overload of all the various artistic elements on the door as well as on the sign to the left of the door. To put that much effort and detail into the making of a simple door, I love it!
