Monument to Juan Bravo Murillo

The Monument to Juan Bravo Murillo stands in Madrid on the corner of Calle Bravo Murillo and Calle José Abascal, in the Chamberí district. It's a modest but historically meaningful monument dedicated to a 19th-century Spanish statesman whose name today marks one of the capital's longest and busiest streets.

Who was Juan Bravo Murillo?

Juan Bravo Murillo (1803–1873) was a Spanish lawyer and politician who served as President of the Council of Ministers of Spain from 1851 to 1852. He is remembered in Madrid chiefly as the driving force behind the construction of the Canal de Isabel II, the waterworks project that solved the capital's chronic drinking-water shortage and allowed the city to keep growing in the decades that followed. It was in recognition of this infrastructure achievement that Madrid's citizens honored him with a public monument.

What will you see there?

The monument follows the classic format of a commemorative civic statue: a bronze-and-stone composition combining a sculpted portrait of the statesman with an inscribed pedestal. It was created by Spanish sculptor Miguel Ángel Trilles. The piece doesn't take up much space, so it's best visited as part of a walk through Chamberí, paired with other stops in this quiet, upscale Madrid neighborhood.

What's the history behind it?

The monument was first unveiled on 5 June 1902 at the Glorieta de Bilbao. It was one of several public sculptures inaugurated in Madrid that year to mark King Alfonso XIII's coming of age, an occasion the city celebrated with a series of unveilings honoring notable historical figures. For decades the monument stood at that original location rather than its current one.

In 1963, as part of urban changes around the Glorieta de Bilbao, the monument was relocated to its present site at the intersection of Calle Bravo Murillo and Calle José Abascal. It was re-inaugurated there on 17 December 1963, and it has remained in that same spot in Chamberí ever since.

How do you get there?

The monument sits in the northern part of central Madrid, within the Chamberí district, easily reached by metro (several nearby stations serve the area) and by the numerous bus lines running along Calle Bravo Murillo. It doesn't require a dedicated trip — it works well as a stop while exploring Chamberí, a neighborhood known for its elegant residential architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

When should you visit?

Since it's an outdoor monument on a street corner, it can be seen at any time, with no opening hours to plan around. The quieter parts of the day, when traffic in the area thins out, make for the most comfortable viewing and let you take in the sculptural detail and inscription without distraction.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Juan Bravo Murillo? A Spanish lawyer and politician who served as President of the Council of Ministers of Spain from 1851 to 1852, best known for promoting the Canal de Isabel II, which supplied Madrid with drinking water.

Where exactly is the monument? On the corner of Calle Bravo Murillo and Calle José Abascal, in Madrid's Chamberí district.

Has it always stood in this spot? No — it was first unveiled in 1902 at the Glorieta de Bilbao, then moved to its current location and re-inaugurated in 1963.

Who created the monument? Sculptor Miguel Ángel Trilles, working in bronze and stone.