Stolperstein dedicated to Fausto Parra Galiana

The Stolperstein dedicated to Fausto Parra Galiana is one of the "stumbling stones" set into the pavement of Madrid's Lavapiés neighbourhood, in the Centro district. It sits on Calle Sombrerería 7 and commemorates a Madrid resident who died in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War.

What is a Stolperstein?

A Stolperstein — literally a "stumbling stone" — is a small brass plaque set into the cobblestones outside the last known home of a victim of Nazi persecution. The project was started by German artist Gunter Demnig in the 1990s, and tens of thousands of these memorial plaques have since been laid across Europe. In Madrid, the stones honour Spaniards deported to concentration camps, mostly former Republican soldiers who fled to France after the Civil War and were later captured by German forces once the country was occupied.

Who was Fausto Parra Galiana?

Fausto Parra Galiana was born in Madrid and fought on the Republican side during the Spanish Civil War. After the war ended, in 1939 he left for France, leaving behind his wife Dominga and their three children — Fausto, Cándido, and Luisa. In France he was interned in a labour camp, and after the German occupation he was deported to the Mauthausen camp in Austria. He died in the Gusen subcamp on 16 November 1941, at the age of 34.

Where exactly is the stone, and why there?

The plaque was placed at Calle Sombrerería 7, in the heart of Lavapiés — a neighbourhood that many of Madrid's deportees called home. It belongs to a wider set of Stolpersteine unveiled across the Centro district, commemorating a group of local residents sent to Nazi camps. At the unveiling of the stone for Fausto Parra Galiana, his daughter Luisa was present along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, giving the ceremony a personal, family dimension.

How do you get there?

Sombrerería is a narrow street in Lavapiés, one of central Madrid's most distinctive neighbourhoods, known for its multicultural atmosphere, street art, and lively bars. The nearest metro stations are Tirso de Molina and Lavapiés (Line 3), both a short walk away. It's worth combining the visit with a stroll through the surrounding streets, where several other Stolpersteine honouring other local residents can also be found.

What will you actually see?

The stone itself is small — a brass plaque set flush into the pavement, easy to walk past if you're not looking for it. The inscription gives the victim's name, year of birth, details of the deportation, and the place and date of death. The idea behind the design is precisely that a passer-by should "stumble" over it with their eyes and pause for a moment to think about one specific person, rather than an anonymous statistic.

When is the best time to visit?

There's no bad time — it's a public street, open around the clock, all year round. Daytime visits make it easier to spot the plaque in the pavement and read the inscription clearly. Lavapiés is lively in the evenings too, but daylight hours suit a quieter, more reflective visit.

Frequently asked questions

How is a Stolperstein different from a monument? A Stolperstein isn't a monumental memorial — it's a small, understated marker placed exactly where the victim once lived, weaving remembrance into the everyday fabric of the city rather than concentrating it in a single grand site.

Why did a Spaniard die in a German concentration camp? After the Spanish Civil War, many Republican soldiers and refugees ended up in France. When Germany occupied the country, some were sent to labour camps and later deported to concentration camps within the Reich, including Mauthausen-Gusen.

How many Stolpersteine are there in Madrid? The Centro district, mainly in Lavapiés, holds around a dozen or more of these stones, each dedicated to a local resident deported to a Nazi camp. The stone for Fausto Parra Galiana is one of them.

Is there an entrance fee? No — the stone sits on a public street and can be viewed for free, at any time.