About this place
The commemorative plaque to Juan Antonio Vallejo-Nájera sits quietly on a residential building at Calle Santiago Bernabéu 5, in Madrid's Chamartín district. It marks the house where the well-known Spanish psychiatrist and author lived out his final years, until his death in 1990.
Who was Juan Antonio Vallejo-Nájera?
Born in Oviedo on 14 November 1926, Vallejo-Nájera spent much of his career as professor of psychiatry and psychopathology at Madrid's Complutense University. His textbook, "Introducción a la Psiquiatría", became standard reading for psychiatry students well beyond Spain and helped train generations of doctors. Alongside his academic work, he also wrote historical novels, and in 1985 he won Spain's prestigious Premio Planeta for "Yo, el rey", a novel about King Ferdinand VII. He died in Madrid on 13 March 1990, in the very house on Calle Santiago Bernabéu that now carries his plaque.
How do you get there?
The plaque stands in Chamartín, in northern Madrid, close to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The area is well served by the metro — the "Santiago Bernabéu" station on line 10 and the nearby Nuevos Ministerios interchange put you within a short walk. Since the plaque itself is a modest street-level marker rather than a major sight, it works best as a quick stop on the way to or from the stadium or a walk through the surrounding business district.
What will you see?
Don't expect a grand monument — this is a discreet plaque placed by the Madrid City Council on the façade of an ordinary apartment building, noting that Vallejo-Nájera lived here until his death. Worth knowing: his name turns up again elsewhere in the city, on the Paseo de Juan Antonio Vallejo-Nájera Botas, a walkway carrying his full name — a sign of how firmly he is remembered in Madrid's public space.
When should you visit?
Because it sits on an ordinary residential street, the plaque can be visited at any time of day or year — there are no opening hours or entry fees to worry about. The most practical approach is to combine a short detour to see it with a visit to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium area nearby, which draws the most foot traffic on match days and during daytime stadium tours.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is the plaque located? At Calle Santiago Bernabéu 5, in Madrid's Chamartín district.
Who was Juan Antonio Vallejo-Nájera? A Spanish psychiatrist, professor at Complutense University, and writer who won the 1985 Premio Planeta for his novel "Yo, el rey".
When was the plaque installed? It was placed in 1990, marking the house where he lived until his death.
Is it worth a dedicated trip? Not really — it's a modest memorial best seen while exploring the area around the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
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