Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
3 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
4 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
5 days ago
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
6 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Madrid 'Tras Julia'

'Tras Julia'

Dedicated to a young woman who broke gender barriers at the University of Madrid.

Madrid, Spain

Added By
Javier Pascual Aguilar
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’ by Antonio Santín Benito, 2003.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
‘Tras Julia’   Xavixavir / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Next to the Noviciado metro station in barrio de Malasaña stands this life-size bronze statue, the work of Madrid-born sculptor Antonio Santín Benito. It pays homage to Julia, a young university student who, according to legend, attended the Universidad Central de la Calle de San Bernardo disguised as a male since only men were allowed access.

The statue was unveiled in April 2003, on the exterior façade of the Bauer Palace where the old University was located and today houses the Superior Singing School. The piece represents a young woman with books in one of her arms, leaning against the wall. The statue of Julia is one of the most popular urban sculptures in the Malasaña neighborhood.

Julia is standing on the sidewalk at the end of Calle del Pez. In addition to its artistic and decorative merit, it has a legendary history associated with the University of Madrid. Julia's story takes place in the mid-19th century when women were banned from studying at the university.

We don't really know who Julia was, but some say that Julia is a representation of Concepción Arenal, a jurist, writer, and human rights activist. It is known that Concepción Arenal dressed up as a man to study law in 1840.

Related Tags

History & Culture Education Statues

Know Before You Go

You will find Julia at Calle del Pez, 42, on the corner of Pez and Noviciado streets. Across the street from the Noviciado metro station.

Community Contributors

Added By

Xavixavir

Edited By

Luis Morato

  • Luis Morato

Published

December 6, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
'Tras Julia'
42 Calle del Pez
Madrid
Spain
40.424329, -3.707161
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Farmacia Juanse

Madrid, Spain

miles away

San Antonio de los Alemanes

Madrid, Spain

miles away

'La Plaza de la Luna'

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 117
Stories 2

Nearby Places

Farmacia Juanse

Madrid, Spain

miles away

San Antonio de los Alemanes

Madrid, Spain

miles away

'La Plaza de la Luna'

Madrid, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Madrid

Madrid

Spain

Places 117
Stories 2

Related Places

  • Chocolate Orange

    York, England

    Terry's Chocolate Orange Sculpture

    A unique tribute to the chocolatey past that helped shape one British city.

  • The Iron Knight

    Prague, Czechia

    Iron Knight

    The statue of a cursed knight is said to come to life every 100 years.

  • A close-up view of the Ancient Melancholy Man.

    London, England

    Ancient Melancholy Man

    This statue in Holland Park might be one of London’s oldest outdoor statues, but its exact origins are unknown.

  • Yokohama, Japan

    ‘Shake Hands With Lima-chan’

    Commemorating the Japanese migration to Peru, this statue has a sister standing across the Pacific.

  • The Juneteenth Monument at Ashton Villa.

    Galveston, Texas

    Juneteenth Monument at Ashton Villa

    The statue, located at a mansion-turned-emancipation museum, honors Galveston’s history as the birthplace of Juneteenth.

  • Bust of Skanderbeg

    London, England

    Skanderbeg Memorial

    The bust of a 15th-century Albanian leader in the middle of London.

  • Bicha of Balazote

    Madrid, Spain

    Bicha of Balazote

    This enigmatic Iberian sculpture of uncertain origin may have once guarded a burial site.

  • Boston Marathon Starting Line & Sculpture

    Hopkinton, Massachusetts

    Boston Marathon Starting Line

    This pavement line and accompanying statue commemorates the starting point for the world's oldest annual marathon.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.