Madrid moves to the rhythm of its streets, its people and, of course, its public transport. Among them, the Metro has become an essential element in the daily lives of thousands of users, connecting every corner of the capital and facilitating the movement of both Madrid residents and tourists.
He Madrid Metro It is one of the most used means of transport by Madrid residents and visitors to the capital. With more than 300 stations and 295 kilometers of network, the metro connects different parts of the city and offers a fast and comfortable way to get around.
But,Who decides the names of the Madrid Metro stops?? What criteria are followed to choose them?
Who names the seasons and what criteria does he follow?
In the capital, it is Community of Madrid who has the power to name the metro stations. The Community may propose the names it deems appropriate, as long as they are not offensive, discriminatory or contrary to public order.
Furthermore, the Community can also take into account citizens’ suggestions and requests to rename a station.
The names of metro stations usually respond to one or more of these criteria:
- The name of the place where the station is located, whether it is a street, a square, a neighborhood, a district or a municipality.
- The name of an illustrious or relevant person in history, culture or society.
- The name of a monument, a building or an emblematic or representative institution of the city.
- The name of a generic concept related to transportation, mobility or urban planning.
What story is hidden behind the names?
Each subway station name has its own history and its own reason for being. Some stories are better known than others, but all of them reveal interesting aspects about the past and present of Madrid.
Ambassadors: This station owes its name to the foreign emissaries and messengers who, during the 15th century, had to take refuge in this area due to an outbreak of plague that hit the city of Madrid.
Lavapiés: This station takes its name from the old Jewish neighborhood of Madrid, where according to legend there was a fountain where Jews washed their hands and feet before entering.
Callao: This station gets its name from the square of the same name, which in turn was named in honor of the naval battle of Callao (1866), in which Spain faced Peru and Chili.
Sun: This station located under the Gate of the Sun and for which it receives its name, has its origin in the sixteenth century and in the revolt of the commoners, who built a fortification where a door stood out with the symbol of a protective sun.
If this article leaves you wanting to delve deeper into the history and names of the seasons of the Madrid Metrowe recommend the work Madrid Metro: Why are its stations called that? written by journalist José Felipe Alonso Fernández-Checa (Editorial La LibrerÃa). In this book, the author offers a detailed analysis of the origin of the names of the 302 stops of the iconic public transport system of the Spanish capital.