{"id":9949,"date":"2021-09-06T13:02:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-06T11:02:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eneasmagazine.com\/en\/?p=9949"},"modified":"2021-09-06T13:03:48","modified_gmt":"2021-09-06T11:03:48","slug":"world-heritage-in-the-centre-of-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eneasmagazine.com\/en\/lifestyle\/tourism\/world-heritage-in-the-centre-of-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"World Heritage in the centre of Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

If on your trip to Madrid you want to see some of the city’s most interesting places, a visit to the Paseo del Prado<\/b> (between Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Carlos V), El Retiro Park and the Jer\u00f3nimos neighbourhood is a must<\/b>. This entire area, under the evocative title “Landscape of Light”, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021 in the category of Cultural Landscape<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

Here you can walk along the first of Europe’s tree-lined promenades, visit world-famous museums such as the Prado, discover monuments that are a symbol of Madrid such as the Puerta de Alcal\u00e1, or sit quietly in magical spots like the gardens surrounding the Palacio de Cristal. In fact, thanks to this area, Madrid has become the first historic urban landscape in Europe to be declared a World Heritage Site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Centuries linking nature, culture and science<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

One of the reasons why this landscape has been chosen by UNESCO is its ability to bring together nature, culture and science in an urban environment. In fact, as early as the 16th century, Madrid became the first European capital with a large tree-lined avenue where all citizens (regardless of class) could enjoy leisure and strolling.\u00a0At the time of the Enlightenment, the Paseo del Prado was home to various institutions such as the Natural History Cabinet, the Royal Botanical Garden and the Royal Observatory of Madrid, and created an urban model ahead of its time that spread to other cities in Spain and Latin America.\u00a0At present, this area covers an area of 190 hectares \u201375% of which is green space\u2013 and has 21 Assets of Cultural Interest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Museums for all tastes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Walking along the Paseo del Prado you will find three of the city’s most famous museums: the\u00a0Reina Sof\u00eda Museum<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(if you start your visit in the Estaci\u00f3n del Arte area), the\u00a0Prado Museum<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0Thyssen-Bornemisza Madrid Museum<\/a><\/strong>. Vel\u00e1zquez’s Las Meninas, Picasso’s Guernica, Goya’s black paintings… The number of world-famous works of art that you will be able to see in these museums will impress you.In this area you can also visit other interesting museums such as the\u00a0Naval Museum<\/a>, the\u00a0National Museum of Decorative Arts<\/a>, the\u00a0National Museum of Anthropology<\/a>, the\u00a0CaixaForum<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and its curious vertical garden, and more.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Left: Entrance to the Thyssen Museum \u00a9 JJFarq \/ Centre: Patio of the Reina Sofia Museum \u00a9 ItzaVU \/ Right: Statue of Vel\u00e1zquez in the Prado Museum, Madrid<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Some of the most beautiful gardens in Madrid<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Next to the Prado Museum is the\u00a0Royal Botanical Garden<\/a><\/strong>, which has a herbarium with more than one million specimens, an archive of nearly 10,000 drawings, and 5,000 species of living plants. Strolling through this garden is a delight and it is worth stopping to see its collection of bonsais, its sculptures, its greenhouses… Throughout the year it also organises interesting activities such as photographic exhibitions or moonlit musical walks.<\/span><\/p>

But if there is one famous green space in the capital, it is undoubtedly\u00a0El Retiro Park<\/a>.<\/strong> With over 125 hectares and more than 15,000 trees, spending a day here is an experience. You can try a boat ride on the Estanque Grande under the gaze of the monument to Alfonso XII (which is also a viewpoint), see an exhibition in the Palacio de Vel\u00e1zquez and Palacio de Cristal, photograph famous statues such as the Fallen Angel or the spectacular fountains, marvel at the rose garden or the shapes of the French parterre… But, above all, walk and “lose yourself” in all its nooks and crannies to see how locals and tourists alike find here a place to exercise and relax in the heart of nature.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t