War Memorial

You’ve arrived at the foot of the Montaña del Príncipe Pío hill, a name that dates back to the 18th century. Back then, a palace belonging to Prince Pío of Savoy stood where Madrid’s North Station stands today. The prince inherited the estate from his wife, the Duchess of Castel Rodrigo. It was what the Spanish call a finca — a large agricultural estate that, in addition to the palace, included the hill where you’re now standing, along with orchards, gardens, houses, and a cemetery. At the entrance to the staircase, you’ll see a striking war memorial: a fallen, mutilated soldier lies against a wall made of bricks that echoes the look of wartime sandbags. This powerful sculpture by Joaquín Vaquero Turcios honours those who died during the first military operation of the Spanish Civil War in Madrid. The Montaña del Príncipe Pío was also the setting for one of the most tragic episodes of the Spanish War of Independence. On May 2, 1808, after Napoleon I forced abdication of King Ferdinand VII, he planned to place his brother on the Spanish throne, and the people of Madrid rose up in revolt.The next morning, 43 Spanish patriots were taken to the top of this hill and were executed by Napoleonic troops. Their bodies were left on display for several days as a chilling warning to others. Today, they are buried in the cemetery of La Florida. This tragic event was immortalised by the Spanish artist Goya in his famous painting The Third of May.