The Screw Statue at Puerta del Sol
Right in the middle of Puerta del Sol, the beating heart of Madrid, stands an equestrian statue of Charles III. Locals rarely give it a second look, but it has earned itself a nickname that tells you exactly how to enjoy it: the Screw Statue. The reason is a single long inscription that runs the whole way around the base of the monument. To read it from beginning to end you have to walk around and around and around the sculpture, turning like a screw. I am convinced that whoever was asked to lay out that text is still laughing somewhere, watching visitor after visitor circle the statue trying to reach the last word.
- Location: centre of Puerta del Sol, 28013 Madrid
- Who it honours: King Charles III, one of the city's great reformer monarchs
- Why the nickname: the inscription wraps all the way around the base, so you have to turn to read it
- Insider tip: actually walk the full circle, most people never do
Philip III's Cursed Statue in Plaza Mayor
Keep walking towards the Royal Palace and you reach Plaza Mayor, and once again, dead in the centre, you find a king on horseback: Philip III. This one carries a much darker reputation. There is a grim old legend tied to the statue, a story involving corpses that is far more unsettling than you would expect from such an elegant square.
- Location: centre of Plaza Mayor
- Who it honours: King Philip III
- The hook: a local legend so macabre that hearing it changes how you cross the square
- Best moment to visit: after dark, when the arcades are quiet, the story lands harder
Why not experience it with a local guide?
Book a free tour through central Madrid: local guides, small groups and no upfront payment.
See the free tours →The Statue of the Four Master Sculptors at Plaza de Oriente
The third monument sits in Plaza de Oriente, directly in front of the Royal Palace. It is a magnificent equestrian statue of Philip IV, and if you look closely you may notice it seems slightly off, a little deformed in places. That is not a flaw so much as a fingerprint of its making. As the nickname suggests, several artists had a hand in it, and knowing the story of its construction explains those odd proportions.
- Location: Plaza de Oriente, facing the Royal Palace
- Who it honours: King Philip IV, shown riding his horse
- Why it looks unusual: multiple artists were involved in its creation
- The famous twist: Galileo Galilei himself was consulted on how to balance the rearing horse
A Short Walking Route to See All Three
The best part is that these three statues line up along one of the most beautiful walks in the city, so you can see all of them in well under an hour. Start at Puerta del Sol, head west through the arcaded streets to Plaza Mayor, then continue past the Almudena Cathedral area towards the Royal Palace and finish in Plaza de Oriente. Along the way you pass some of Madrid's most iconic corners, so take your time and let the city breathe.
- Start at Puerta del Sol and the Screw Statue
- Walk to Plaza Mayor for Philip III's cursed statue
- Continue towards the Royal Palace
- Finish at Plaza de Oriente with the statue of Philip IV
- Total time: roughly 30 to 45 minutes on foot, longer if you stop for coffee
Why These Statues Are Worth Your Time
On their own, three royal statues might sound like the kind of thing you nod at and forget. What makes them worth a detour is the layer underneath: a private joke carved in stone, a legend that haunts a square, and a monument shaped by rivalry and even the mind of Galileo. This is exactly the kind of Madrid you miss when you only tick off the big sights. The city rewards the people who stop and ask why.
- They are all free to see and steps from the main tourist route
- Each one hides a story you cannot guess just by looking
- Together they turn a simple walk into a mini history tour
- Perfect for a first day in Madrid or a slow afternoon
Why not experience it with a local guide?
Book a free tour through central Madrid: local guides, small groups and no upfront payment.
See the free tours →See Them With a Local Guide
My honest advice is to walk this route with someone who knows the stories, because the statues only come alive once you hear what happened around them. That is how I learned the truth behind Philip III's cursed statue and the surprising role Galileo played in the monument to Philip IV. A free walking tour is the easiest way in: you explore the historic centre led by an expert, ask everything you have ever wondered, and decide at the end what the experience was worth to you.
- Join a free walking tour of Madrid's historic centre to hear the full stories
- Prefer something bespoke? Ask about a private tour tailored to your interests
- Bring comfortable shoes, the old centre is best explored on foot
Why not experience it with a local guide?
Book a free tour through central Madrid: local guides, small groups and no upfront payment.
See the free tours →
