Talkin’ Spain: Madrid’s Oso y Madroño

Brian's Spain Domain

Aug 19 2025 | 00:09:33

00:00 / 00:09:33

Show Notes

“El Oso y el Madroño” in English translates to “The Bear and the Strawberry Tree“. It is the official symbol of Madrid, represented by a bronze statue in the Puerta del Sol. The statue depicts a bear standing on its hind legs, reaching for the fruit of a strawberry tree. The bear and strawberry tree symbol has been part of Madrid’s coat of arms since at least the 13th century. There are a few theories about the origin of the symbol, including the idea that there were many bears in the surrounding forests and that the strawberry tree was a […]

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