Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences, Spain

The urban and artistic complex of El Prado combines buildings of a cultural nature with green areas and enclaves dedicated to science.

Of all the elements of this cultural landscape, the Paseo del Prado was the first to be built. It was the first tree-lined boulevard to be created in any European capital and was made with the intention that citizens of any social class could enjoy nature in the middle of the city. 

The now-disappeared palace became the epicentre of Spanish culture in the middle of the Golden Age. In the 18th century, Charles III opened the gardens to the public.

In the middle of the age of the cultural movement known as the Enlightenment, which emerged in Europe in the 18th century, a new vision of urban space was born. It was in this period that a number of scientific facilities were added to the Landscape of Light.

The Enlightenment brought about an important intervention in urban planning for this area of Madrid. Not only were cultural buildings constructed, but the area was beautified and fountains and ornamental elements, among other things, were added. 

Near to this famous triangle, other museums can be found, such as the Naval Museum, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National Museum of Decorative Arts and the CaixaForum, with its vertical garden.

From its very earliest days, the Paseo del Prado had a great influence on Hispanic America, especially in the 18th century. The collaborations between the two continents were not only urbanistic, but also cultural, the botanical expeditions that departed from the Botanical Garden to Latin America standing out in particular.