The Madrid Río letters stand on the Puente del Rey esplanade (Avenida de Portugal, 1), on the banks of the Manzanares river and a short walk from Príncipe Pío metro station. They are a sculpture made of blue recycled glass that spells out the word MADRID, and you can visit them for free at any time of day.
For me they are more than a photo spot: they were one of the first places I reached when I decided to start moving. I remember the exact moment. I stepped on the scale on an ordinary day and saw a number I had been avoiding for months. It wasn't an instant shock or a movie-style before and after: it was something I already knew but hadn't wanted to admit. That day I decided to start moving around Madrid, with no miracle diets and no promises of results in two weeks. Just consistency, one day after another.
Where to find the MADRID sign in Madrid Río
The letters are on the Puente del Rey esplanade, inside Madrid Río park, right by the Manzanares. Behind them you get one of the best views of the city: the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande.
The sign spells out MADRID together with the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the city's emblem. It is twelve metres long and almost three metres high, and it is covered in blue-tinted recycled glass collected from the city's recycling bins. Madrid City Council and Ecovidrio installed it in March 2021, and at night it lights up with LEDs powered by solar panels.
It is an almost mandatory stop if you walk or cycle between Casa de Campo and Príncipe Pío. And it is exactly where the flat Madrid Río walking route begins: 5.5 km along the river to Matadero, described section by section, and the place where I took my first walks.
How to get there by public transport
- Metro: Príncipe Pío station (lines 6 and 10, plus the Ópera–Príncipe Pío branch line), a short walk from the esplanade.
- Alternative metro: Puerta del Ángel (line 6), on the other side of the river.
- Cercanías commuter trains: same station, Príncipe Pío.
- EMT city buses: the Príncipe Pío transport hub has several bus lines stopping a few metres away.
A tip for the photo
The best light is early in the morning or at sunset, when the Royal Palace is lit from the side and fewer people are waiting their turn. If you come by bike, lean it to one side of the letters so it doesn't cover the word. And if you pass by after dark, it's worth seeing them lit up.
Why I chose moving over dieting
I'm not a nutritionist or a coach. The only thing I knew for sure was that every time I had tried to go on a strict diet overnight, it didn't last: it was unsustainable, and as soon as I slipped one day I felt I had failed completely. So I decided to start with something I could actually keep up: going for walks. No impossible goals, no comparisons, just walking out the door and coming back a while later.
Madrid as a starting point
I didn't have a route plan. I started with what was in front of me: my neighbourhood, the nearest park and a bike that had been gathering dust. First I walked short distances. Then came the bike. Over time I added more: running, strength training and playing five-a-side football with friends again. Each new activity didn't replace the previous one; it added to it.
The photo of the letters with my bike at the top of this page is from those first months. I didn't know then that, in a way, that day would be the beginning of this blog.
What I learned along the way
That real progress doesn't look like what you see on social media. There is no straight line: there are good weeks and weeks when nothing moves, days you feel like it and days you don't. The only thing that truly made a difference was to keep showing up: walking, even if only a little; cycling, even when it was cold; going to five-a-side, even when my body wanted the sofa.
If I did one thing wrong at the beginning, it was not paying attention to gear. I went out in whatever trainers I had at home, and my knees felt it. If you're just starting, choose comfortable, well-fitting shoes before anything else.
That's what this blog is about: my real process, as it happens, without filters or shortcuts. If you're starting too, or thinking about it, I hope these posts keep you company.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Madrid Río letters?
On the Puente del Rey esplanade (Avenida de Portugal, 1), inside Madrid Río park on the banks of the Manzanares, a few minutes' walk from Príncipe Pío metro station.
What is the nearest metro station?
Príncipe Pío, served by lines 6 and 10 and the branch line, and also by Cercanías commuter trains. Puerta del Ángel, on line 6, is another nearby option.
What are the letters made of?
Blue-tinted recycled glass collected from the city's recycling bins. They are about twelve metres long and almost three metres high.
Are they lit up at night?
Yes. They have LED lighting powered by solar panels, so you can see them lit up after dark.
What is the best time to take a photo?
Early in the morning or at sunset, when the Royal Palace is lit from the side and fewer people are waiting their turn.
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