El Oso y El Madroño

This is one of my favorite statues in Madrid - the Bear and the Strawberry Tree. It is located in La Puerta del Sol. The Puerta del Sol is in the Madrid of the Hasburgs (or the Madrid of the Austrias) section of Madrid. This area of Madrid is so named because it was during the reign of this dynasty that this area and Madrid itself really began to develop. The Sol area is the heart of Madrid. All of the best shopping can be done in this area, and believe me, I have bought way more than my share of Spanish shoes and clothing. When I ask people about the story of this statue, I never get the same story twice. Some people would even argue that it's not a strawberry tree, but I can get everybody to agree that it is a bear. :)
The Bear and the Strawberry Tree was constructed in 1965 by the sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafé. This statue is said to weight almost 20 tons! It is also the official symbol of Madrid, and you will see this symbol everywhere, on taxis, buses, pavements, banks, street signs, trash bins, and other things as well.
So, why is it the official symbol of Madrid? Opinions vary. The practical theory is that the bear standing on its hind legs with its front paws on the tree trunk represents possession and ownership of wood necessary for constructing buildings.