Calle de Luchana

The name comes from a Christmas Eve. On 24 December 1836, General Baldomero Espartero forced the crossing of the Luchana bridge, over the Nervión estuary outside Bilbao, and lifted the siege the Carlist troops held over the town. That action of the First Carlist War became one of the great milestones for the Isabelline side, and Madrid wanted to fix it on its street map. The street was laid out around 1837 as a promenade running from the old Bilbao gate toward the Chamberí suburb, still open country. It became a calle in 1860, as the built-up area gained ground. Today it links the Glorieta de Bilbao with Santa Engracia. In the 20th century it filled with cinemas and neighborhood life. At number 39 lived the composer Pablo Sorozábal, author of zarzuelas such as La del manojo de rosas. In a small square beside the street a monument was raised to four masters of the sainete, the short scenes of popular Madrid comedy.