According to folklore, Madrid’s original name was Ursaria, meaning “Land of the Bears” because of the high population of bears once living in the forests. Consequently, the symbol of Madrid has long been a bear eating from a strawberry tree. The image has also been part of the city’s coat of arms since the 13th century. This 13 foot, bronze sculpture by Antonio Navarro Santafé has stood at a busy plaza called Puerta del Sol since 1967.
