Monumento a Loreto Prado

Loreto Prado was a very famous actress from Madrid who died in 1943. Madrid City Council erected this monument to her in the Plaza de Chamberí. It was unveiled on 8 October 1944. The sculpture is the work of Mariano Benlliure. It shows Loreto wearing a simple manola dress and a Manila shawl, with her hair combed in her characteristic bun. She is leaning against a wall where we can see the Virgen de la Paloma and the official coat of arms of Madrid in those years. It was originally intended to preside over the tomb of the actress. This monument is a copy because the original was deteriorating and was removed from the street.

Text and photos by Antonio Castro Jiménez, Chronicler of the City of Madrid.