Stolperstein dedicated to Antonio Rosciano Cid

The Stolperstein dedicated to Antonio Rosciano Cid is a brass memorial plaque set into the pavement in central Madrid, on the border between the Chueca and Malasaña neighborhoods, close to the end of Calle del Espíritu Santo. It belongs to the Stolperstein ("stumbling stone") project, the pan-European memorial initiative created by German artist Gunter Demnig to commemorate victims of Nazism at the last address they chose to live.

What exactly is a Stolperstein?

A Stolperstein is a small 10x10 centimetre concrete cube topped with a brass plate, embedded directly into the pavement in front of the building where a Nazi victim last lived by their own choice before being deported. The plate carries the person's name and, typically, key dates connected to their life, deportation, and death. Demnig's project has grown into one of the largest decentralised memorials in the world, with more than 75,000 stones laid across roughly 20 European countries.

Why is this stone in Madrid?

The stone for Antonio Rosciano Cid is part of Madrid's chapter of the project, which recalls the fate of madrileños deported to Nazi concentration camps. Of the roughly 450 residents of Madrid who died in the camps, the large majority were Spanish Republicans — people who fled to France after Franco's victory in the Spanish Civil War, seeking safety, only to fall under the Nazi deportation machinery once Germany occupied France. This particular stone marks the spot near a stately building at the end of Calle del Espíritu Santo, understood to be the last address Antonio Rosciano Cid chose for himself before the war upended his life.

How do you get there?

The location sits right in the heart of Madrid, on the boundary of Chueca and Malasaña — a densely built district of old apartment blocks, cafés and shops that forms part of the city's historic core. The closest metro stations are Chueca (line 5) and Tribunal (lines 1 and 10), both a short walk from the stone through the narrow streets of old Madrid. It's easy to combine a visit with exploring Chueca and Malasaña themselves, two neighbourhoods known for nightlife, design shops and cultural history.

What will you actually see?

The stone itself is small and easy to walk past if you don't know to look for it — you need to look down, at the pavement right in front of a building's entrance. The brass surface catches the light and stands out clearly against the surrounding cobbles. Dozens of similar stones are scattered through this part of Madrid, each dedicated to a different victim, and walking between them amounts to a self-guided memorial route that can be followed with the map published by Madrid's Stolpersteine project. No ticket or booking is needed — the stone is simply part of the public street.

When is the best time to visit?

The stone can be visited at any time of day or year, since it sits on an open public pavement. Daylight hours are best if you want to read the inscription on the brass plate clearly. The surrounding area occasionally hosts small remembrance events tied to deportation anniversaries or the installation of new stones in Madrid, so it's worth checking local announcements if you want to catch the historical context around a visit.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Stolperstein? It's a brass plate set into the pavement marking the last freely chosen home of a Nazi victim before deportation to a concentration camp. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig and today includes more than 75,000 stones across Europe.

Who was Antonio Rosciano Cid? He was one of Madrid's Nazi victims, deported to a concentration camp — most likely, like many madrileños of that generation, a Spanish Republican who ended up in German-occupied France after the Spanish Civil War.

Is there an entrance fee? No. The stone sits in open public space on the pavement and can be seen free of charge at any time.

Are there other Stolpersteine nearby? Yes. The Chueca and Malasaña neighbourhoods in central Madrid have one of the highest concentrations of these stones in the city, and they can be visited as a memorial walking route from one address to the next.