commemorative plaque to Rosalía de Castro

The commemorative plaque to Rosalía de Castro sits on the facade of a building at Calle Ballesta 15 in Madrid, right in the heart of the Malasaña neighborhood, just steps from Gran Vía.

Who was Rosalía de Castro?

Rosalía de Castro ranks among the most important Spanish-language writers of the 19th century and is a central figure of the Rexurdimento, the cultural revival of Galician literature. She wrote in both Galician and Spanish, and her poetry is still regarded as the foundation of modern Galician verse. In 1856, at just nineteen years old, she moved to Madrid and settled into the ground-floor flat of this building on Calle Ballesta. It was here, between 1856 and 1858, that she wrote and published her first literary work, the poem "La Flor." During her time in the capital she also met the historian and writer Manuel Murguía, whom she married on 10 October 1858. Brief as this Madrid chapter was, it marked her debut as a published author before she returned to her native Galicia, where she later wrote her best-known collections, "Cantares Gallegos" and "Follas Novas."

How do you get to the plaque?

Calle Ballesta 15 is located in central Madrid, in the Malasaña neighborhood (Universidad district), only a few minutes on foot from Gran Vía metro station (lines 1 and 5) or Callao (lines 3 and 5). It's a narrow street branching off Gran Vía toward Plaza de Santo Domingo, lined with cafés, vintage clothing shops, and atmospheric bars. The plaque is easy to miss if you're not specifically looking for it, so it helps to know the street number and check the facade around first-floor height.

What will you see there?

The plaque is a rectangular stone slab with beveled edges. Carved at the top is the coat of arms of Galicia, and below it runs a raised inscription in Spanish: "AQUÍ VIVIÓ Dª ROSALÍA DE CASTRO. HOMENAJE DEL CENTRO GALLEGO DE MADRID EN EL CENTENARIO DE SU BODA CON D. MANUEL M. MURGUÍA. 10-X-1858 – 10-X-1958" ("Here lived Doña Rosalía de Castro. Tribute from the Galician Center of Madrid on the centenary of her marriage to Don Manuel M. Murguía"). The plaque was unveiled in 1958 at the initiative of the Centro Gallego de Madrid, an association representing the Galician community in the capital, as the last event it organized to mark the centenary of the writer's wedding.

When should you visit?

The plaque can be viewed year-round, at any time of day, since it's mounted on the outside wall of the building and is always visible from the street. Spring and autumn make for the most pleasant walking weather in Malasaña, milder than the height of summer. The neighborhood really comes alive in the evenings, so it's worth pairing a quick stop at the plaque with a stroll through the surrounding streets, known for their alternative fashion scene, cafés, and small bars.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the plaque located? On the facade of the building at Calle Ballesta 15, in the Malasaña neighborhood, close to Gran Vía and Plaza de Santo Domingo.

Is there an entrance fee? No — the plaque is mounted on the exterior wall of a residential building and can be viewed for free from the street at any time.

Why was this particular building chosen? Because Rosalía de Castro lived on its ground floor from 1856 to 1858, when she arrived in Madrid as a young writer and published her first work there.

Who commissioned the plaque, and when? The Centro Gallego de Madrid unveiled it in 1958, on the hundredth anniversary of the writer's marriage to Manuel Murguía.