The beauty, art, and history of Madrid have made the capital one of the world’s most iconic cities, filled with hidden gems and stunning landmarks. And now, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage list, its universal value is more exceptional than ever.
It was back in 2019 when the candidacy for Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro was officially submitted to join the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list. Today, we celebrate its official recognition as part of the Landscape of Arts and Sciences category.
UNESCO has acknowledged the extraordinary urban environment of Madrid with this designation, which highlights the unique harmony of culture, nature, and science that has coexisted along this promenade since the mid-16th century. While it’s not the first site in Spain to receive this recognition, it is the first tree-lined urban promenade in Europe to achieve such distinction.
What Is a UNESCO World Heritage City?
We’ve all heard of the UNESCO World Heritage list, but what does it really mean, and how does a site become part of it?
To start, it’s important to know that the list was created in 1972 during the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The goal was to safeguard heritage sites considered of exceptional importance in each country. With the mission of preserving locations of outstanding universal value, nations began submitting proposals to be carefully evaluated and potentially added to the list.
Today, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than 1,000 iconic locations across the globe. Spain is one of the countries with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
UNESCO World Heritage in Madrid You Can’t Miss
Currently, Spain has around fifty UNESCO-listed sites. As for the capital, a major recent addition is the recognition of Paseo del Prado and El Retiro Park and their surrounding area.
Thanks to the efforts of the Madrid City Council, in collaboration with the Community of Madrid and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the city now proudly holds a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The promenade and its environment form a historic landscape of exceptional value, designed in the 16th century as a green space for leisure and rest at the heart of the city.
Since July 25, the area comprising the Paseo del Prado between Cibeles and Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, El Retiro Park, and the Barrio de los Jerónimos is also known as the Landscape of Light (Paisaje de la Luz). It’s a remarkable route that includes numerous important institutions such as the Madrid City Hall, the Bank of Spain, the Army Headquarters, Casa de América, the Spanish Congress, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and iconic hotels like the Palace and the Ritz.
As you walk through the Landscape of Light, you’ll also encounter the Stock Exchange, the Navy Headquarters, the Prado Museum, the National Museum of Decorative Arts, the Royal Botanical Garden, the Royal Spanish Academy of Language, the Naval Museum, the Church of Los Jerónimos, and the Royal Astronomical Observatory. Near Atocha, you’ll find the National Museum of Anthropology, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Environment, the Ministry of Health, the Cuesta de Moyano book market, CaixaForum, and the Reina Sofía National Museum of Art, among others.
And if that weren’t enough, along this stunning route you’ll also discover some of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks, buildings, and sculptures: the Puerta de Alcalá, the Fountains of Cibeles, Apollo and Neptune, the Obelisk to the Fallen, and the Monument to Alfonso XII by the lake in El Retiro.
What’s more, walking the backbone of Madrid’s cultural life means encountering over 21 properties of cultural interest and an extraordinary collection of masterpieces by renowned artists like Goya, Velázquez, and Picasso.
So, are you ready to discover Madrid’s UNESCO World Heritage with your own eyes?
