ITINERARIO BOTÁNICO EN EL RETIRO / Julio Asunción
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 2.58 mi
- Elevation gain
- 23 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 23 ft
- Max elevation
- 2,198 ft
- TrailRank
- 40
- Min elevation
- 2,142 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- one hour 30 minutes
- Coordinates
- 479
- Uploaded
- June 6, 2009
- Recorded
- May 2009
near Las Cortes, Comunidad de Madrid (España)
Viewed 12154 times, downloaded 246 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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El Retiro is, without a doubt, one of the best parks in the world. Formerly a private enjoyment area for Spanish royalty, today it is visited by millions of Madrid residents and tourists every year. Together with the Prado Museum, it is one of the city's great attractions. It is a joy to walk along its walks, delight next to the Crystal Palace, see exhibitions in the Casa de Vacas or the Velásquez Palace, row in the Pond or enjoy a sunset at the Alfonso XII Monument. But we can also learn to recognize the most common trees not only in this park but in many parks in Spain. This botanical itinerary takes a complete tour of the Retiro while identifying the different trees. It is also equipped with information panels that explain some characteristics and curiosities of each species, such as its maximum height, its origin, the uses that have been given throughout history to its leaves, seeds or fruits, from which its name comes. , etc. The 4 kilometer route can last from an hour and a quarter to about three hours depending on the time we spend identifying each of the species and reading the information panels, which is highly recommended. By taking this tour calmly, observing the leaves, the trunks and the general appearance of the trees, carefully reading the information offered to us, we will be able to end it being knowledgeable about many species that we will later find on walks, parks, gardens and even in the mountain. In addition, the route takes you to some of the declared Singular Trees of the Community of Madrid, unique specimens, true natural monuments.
The walk begins and ends at the entrance to the Plaza de la Independencia, where the Puerta de Alcalá is located. Instead of following the wide path that leads to the Pond, it goes into the forest to the right. The sophora, very abundant in the park, is the first tree with an information panel. So up to more than 50. Among them we must highlight the Ahuehuete del Parterre, the oldest tree in Retiro and probably in Madrid. It was planted in 1633. In the Crystal Palace lake we find the swamp Cypresses, also declared unique trees. It is curious how these trees grow in the same lake. Near the rose garden we find a huge pine tree, another of the giants that are specially protected. If you take the tour in May, it is worth delighting in the burst of color of the roses in the Rose Garden.
Oak, lilac, linden, love tree, acacia, cedar, magnolia, ash, hackberry, mulberry, yew and many more will be our hosts on this wonderful and illustrative tour of the Retiro. The strawberry tree could not be missing, a symbolic tree since it is present in the city's coat of arms.
Spring and autumn are the best times to do this walk. Surely those who do it with interest will no longer see the parks in the same way. You will know that the sequoia takes its name from a Cherokee Indian, that the horse chestnut is not native to the Indies, but to the Balkans, that the yew in its entirety is poisonous and can live for 1,500 years, that many large forests of oaks were lost due to shipbuilding during the times of the Spanish Empire, that the Magnolia was introduced to Europe in the 18th century or that tradition tells that Judas hanged himself in the tree of love.
I dedicate this route to my sister Mar, a biologist, who more than once resolved my doubts about the identification of a tree or plant at the time when I began to be interested in our green friends (and I am not referring to aliens).
If you like archeology and Prehistory, try visiting my blog on archaeological routes through Navarra:
http://arqueologianavarra.blogspot.com
Archaeological routes through Alicante on my blog:
http://arqueologiaalicante.blogspot.com
Other routes through Navarra in:
http://senderismonavarra.blogspot.com
http://senderosderoncesvalles.blogspot.com
The walk begins and ends at the entrance to the Plaza de la Independencia, where the Puerta de Alcalá is located. Instead of following the wide path that leads to the Pond, it goes into the forest to the right. The sophora, very abundant in the park, is the first tree with an information panel. So up to more than 50. Among them we must highlight the Ahuehuete del Parterre, the oldest tree in Retiro and probably in Madrid. It was planted in 1633. In the Crystal Palace lake we find the swamp Cypresses, also declared unique trees. It is curious how these trees grow in the same lake. Near the rose garden we find a huge pine tree, another of the giants that are specially protected. If you take the tour in May, it is worth delighting in the burst of color of the roses in the Rose Garden.
Oak, lilac, linden, love tree, acacia, cedar, magnolia, ash, hackberry, mulberry, yew and many more will be our hosts on this wonderful and illustrative tour of the Retiro. The strawberry tree could not be missing, a symbolic tree since it is present in the city's coat of arms.
Spring and autumn are the best times to do this walk. Surely those who do it with interest will no longer see the parks in the same way. You will know that the sequoia takes its name from a Cherokee Indian, that the horse chestnut is not native to the Indies, but to the Balkans, that the yew in its entirety is poisonous and can live for 1,500 years, that many large forests of oaks were lost due to shipbuilding during the times of the Spanish Empire, that the Magnolia was introduced to Europe in the 18th century or that tradition tells that Judas hanged himself in the tree of love.
I dedicate this route to my sister Mar, a biologist, who more than once resolved my doubts about the identification of a tree or plant at the time when I began to be interested in our green friends (and I am not referring to aliens).
If you like archeology and Prehistory, try visiting my blog on archaeological routes through Navarra:
http://arqueologianavarra.blogspot.com
Archaeological routes through Alicante on my blog:
http://arqueologiaalicante.blogspot.com
Other routes through Navarra in:
http://senderismonavarra.blogspot.com
http://senderosderoncesvalles.blogspot.com
Waypoints
Tree
2,198 ft
MADROÑO
Árbol simbólico en Madrid ya que está en su escudo.
Comments (2)
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Magnifico el aporte de esta ruta, para un domingo en primavera perfecta. Gracias por compartir tu interés por la naturaleza.
Perfecto para dar a conocer el Retiro.