Mariblanca

This white marble sculpture of the goddess Venus, the original version of which is currently located inside the Casa de la Villa building and its replica in the Puerta del Sol, is popularly known by the people of Madrid as the Mariblanca. Since 1625, when it was acquired, its presence in the city has undergone constant changes of location and various restorations.

The history of this statue in Madrid is linked from its beginnings to that of the Puerta del Sol, as it was commissioned in 1625 from the sculptor and dealer in classical statues, Ludovico Turqui, who brought it from Florence to form part of the monumental fountain that would be installed in the Madrid square to embellish and dignify the city after the return of the Court to Madrid in 1606.

After several transformations of the fountain, in 1838 it was moved to the Plaza de las Descalzas. It remained there until 1892, when the sculpture was replaced by another. From then on it was in the municipal warehouse until 1912, when it was placed in the Retiro Park. After being removed again, in 1969 it was placed in the Paseo de Recoletos. In 1984 it was badly damaged by vandalism and had to be restored. Once the restoration was completed, it was placed in the vestibule of the main staircase of the Casa de la Villa in 1985, where it has remained ever since.

The replica in the Puerta del Sol was made in limestone by the restorer Jerónimo García Gallego with a mould taken from the original once it had been restored. It is six metres high, including the base, and weighs 11 tonnes. In 1986 it was placed in the same place where the fountain that crowned the original version of the Mariblanca once stood. With the arrival of the works for the railway interchange in 2004, the statue was dismantled in 2006 and was kept again in the municipal warehouses until the end of its life.

In mid-August 2023, the statue was moved again as part of the remodelling of the square, occupying from now on the western end of the new line of benches at the northern arch of the Puerta del Sol.