Calle de la Princesa

The name pays tribute to the Infanta Isabella of Bourbon, fondly called “la Chata”, eldest daughter of Isabella II. Born in the Royal Palace in 1851, she was princess of Asturias at two different moments in her life, hence the title carved into the street in 1865. The people of Madrid loved her with an affection rarely shown toward royalty. She ended her days in exile in Paris. Before bearing this name, the street was called calle del Duque de Liria, after the nearby palace. Earlier still it was the road to San Bernardino shown on Texeira’s map of 1656, and one stretch was known as calle de los Afligidos. The development of the land between the hill of Príncipe Pío and this street gave rise to the extension that came to be called Argüelles. At the crossing of Princesa and Marqués de Urquijo a monument was raised to her in 1902, later moved about the district several times.