Skip to Content

Polaroid of the week: The hand-painted street signs of Madrid, Spain

Polaroid of the week: The hand-painted street signs of Madrid, Spain

Last Updated on January 19, 2022

.polaroid of the week spain madrid street sign calle del rioThe historic center of Madrid has some of the most beautiful street signs we’ve come across on our travels. The signs are usually set together from nine or twelve hand-painted ceramic tiles with pictures related to the name of the street.

These public works of art range from animals like eagles and bulls, important historical townspeople like mayors, carpenters or nuns and the Calle del Rio, or street of the river (above) is illustrated by an idyllic lazy river. This is just one of those little details about Madrid we loved during our recent visit!

Nancy Todd

Sunday 6th of May 2012

Hand painted ceramics are all over Seville: balustrades, pictures on restaurants, street signs, tiled walls. I love the color of Seville.

jess

Wednesday 9th of May 2012

That's right - we totally fell for Seville a few years ago and it was great to go back. So beautiful!

karen ho fatt@garden fire pits

Wednesday 29th of June 2011

Unique signs indeed. Every city and place has its own character. Spain has a long tradition of tiles (painted) At least this one is not a run of the mill type of sign. Nice graphics too.