One of the most prominent and famous features of Puerta del Sol is the Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree. The statue isn't actually very old and has only been on display at the square since 1967. In Spanish, the name is “El Oso y el Madroño” and the bear and strawberry tree have been on the Coat of Arms of Madrid since at least the 13th-century and it has become a symbol of the city.
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The statue stands at the Eastern end of the square.
"The Bear and the Strawberry Tree" and a view of Puerta del Sol.
A closer look at the statue.
This is the view you see when you arrive at Puerta del Sol from Calle de Alcalá.
The statue is 4 meters tall (13 ft).
The view from the other side of the statue.
The additional plaque that reads "1967 - 2017" commemorates when the statue had been on display at Puerta del Sol for 50 years. It has not always been in the same place as it has been moved around a few times.
View of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and Calle de Alcalá.