Landscape of Light: Paseo del Arte and Retiro Park

The maximum expression of this heritage wealth was evident in 2021 with the declaration of this “Landscape of Light” as UNESCO World Heritage, in the category of Arts and Sciences. The specific areas included in this candidacy are the Los Jerónimos neighborhood, El Retiro park and Paseo del Prado, which runs between Emperador Carlos V Square and Cibeles Square.

Undisputedly responsible for this historical value was the great enlightened transformation, which from 1767 modernized the entire area. From the Recoletos gate to the Atocha gate, with the fountains of Neptune, Apollo and Cibeles and with the opening of the Royal Botanical Garden; The great icons of the area already made it the focal point of the urban, artistic and scientific worlds.

What UNESCO wanted to recognize is, among others, the exceptional nature of the oldest urban tree-lined promenade in a European capital. Did you know that the Paseo del Prado was built as a prototype of urban malls? Since its construction, this model became popular in modern Hispanic urban planning that was exported to America.

It is difficult to list all the points of interest that cover the perimeter of this majestic “Landscape of Light”. We find this settlement packed fo public headquarters, unique architectural works, as well as science and art centers. The Royal Astronomical Observatory is located here, in an elegant building by Juan de Villanueva that, like many other monuments in the area, was commissioned to build by Carlos III, who earned the nickname "best mayor of Madrid" as a result of this great urban planning effort. The observatory houses a replica of astronomer William Herschel's telescope, which was considered the best telescope in the world.

In the Jerónimos neighborhood stands the church of the same name, the former monastery of San Jerónimo El Real (Saint Jerome the Royal), which in turn contains important works of art, such as “The Adoration of the Shepherds”, by Francisco Rizi.

The Royal Botanical Garden sometimes looks secondary so close to El Retiro, but inside are preserved some of the prints from the first botanical expeditions that were made to the New World. Their biological and documentary legacies, provided by the richness of the passage of time, are incomparable.

Perhaps the most particular image of this luminous landscape is achieved by the Retiro Crystal Palace. It was built at the end of the 19th century to house an exhibition of tropical flora brought from the Philippines, but today it stands out as a tourist spot and as a center for exhibitions and different cultural events. Thus, a synthesis of architecture, art, science and nature forms the backbone of this building’s history, an essential icon of this “Landscape of Light”.

The popular park of El Retiro had its origin in 1631. The former “Parque de El Buen Retiro” had a large pond for shows and a series of garden hermitages, although originally it was an exclusive area for the kings. Not even the nobility was allowed to access its enclosure.

El Retiro was used as a barracks during the War of Independence. The centuries have transformed its features. It thus preserves its essence as a real urban park, with more than 15,000 trees, but at the same time history is written in its paths. In fact, the oldest tree in Madrid still stands in the park.

Almost 400 years old, the famous ahuehuete del Parterre has seen centuries of history from its location, very close to the Felipe IV’s gate. It reaches 25 meters in height and its candelabra-shaped base makes it stand out prominently in the park. Other curious elements also stand out in these gardens, such as the Fallen Angel fountain, which statue always raises mystery and legend. It is located at an exact elevation of 666 meters above sea level, the so-called “Number of the Beast” referred to in the Apocalypse.

It is one of the lungs of the city, as well as a classic strolling place where locals and visitors alike meet. Enjoy a rowboat ride or walk, a performance at the Puppet Theater or an open-air concert.

Since the end of the 19th century, as a public park, El Retiro was used as a setting to hold various international exhibitions. As a testimony of these, there are buildings as emblematic as the Minería, popularly known as the Velázquez Palace and the Crystal Palace, without a doubt the most outstanding place in the gardens, which together with its artificial lake was built in 1887 on the occasion of the Philippine Islands Exhibition, where various species of flowers from that territory were unveiled.

In the 1930s and 1940s, new gardens appeared, executed by the senior gardener Cecilio Rodríguez, who designed and built the Rose Garden and the Cecilio Rodríguez gardens where a pavilion is located.

Madrilenians and visitors often meet in this park, which on weekends and holidays comes alive with performances by singers, musicians, puppeteers and artists who line up in front of the lake.