In 2021, this site was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its cultural, historical, natural, and scientific value.
The Landscape of Light encompasses areas such as the Paseo del Prado and the Retiro Park, whose origins date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, respectively.
Since its declaration, the City Council has dedicated significant effort to conserving and preserving this enclave, with notable projects such as the restoration of the Puerta de Alcalá and the ongoing restoration of the Cibeles Fountain.
July 25th marked the fifth anniversary of the inclusion of the Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro Park, a landscape of arts and sciences known as the Landscape of Light, on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Bordered to the north by the Plaza de Cibeles and to the south by Atocha Station, this urban space unites culture, science, and nature in a history that began in the mid-16th century.
The History of the Landscape of Light
From the Prado de los Jerónimos to the Paseo del Prado
The origin of this place dates back to the Prado de los Jerónimos, referring to the lands surrounding the Monastery of San Jerónimo el Real in the 16th century. This area began to be developed under Philip II, following the course of the Fuente Castellana stream.
At the end of the 18th century, Charles III transformed the space into the Salón del Prado, a promenade with gardens and fountains designed by the engineer José de Hermosilla and the architect Ventura Rodríguez. The first was in charge of the urban design, while Rodríguez was responsible for designing the fountains and decorative elements. We owe to him the design of the Cibeles Fountain, sculpted by Miguel Ximénez, and the Neptune Fountain, a work by Juan Gaspar de Mena.
In 1774, at the initiative of the Marquis of Grimaldi, the creation of the Botanical Garden was promoted. A few years later, in 1785, the Count of Floridablanca promoted the founding of the Museum of Natural History (now the Prado Museum), as part of an Enlightenment program.
The Paseo del Prado in the 19th and 20th Centuries
During the 19th century, the nobles of the capital began to build their palaces along the Paseo del Prado, as it gained prominence in the city. In the second half of the century, the Linares Palace (1873) and the Bank of Spain building (1891), both in the Plaza de Cibeles, and the Stock Exchange were built. Furthermore, in 1891, the Cibeles Fountain was moved to its current location in the center of the square, facing the Puerta del Sol.
In the first half of the 20th century, the old palaces began to be replaced by official buildings. From this period date the Ritz Hotel (1910) and the Palace Hotel (1912), and the Communications Palace (1919), designed by the architect Antonio Palacios.
From the Buen Retiro Gardens to the Retiro Park
The Buen Retiro Gardens were created by Philip IV in the 17th century as a country estate for the kings of the House of Austria. Under the Bourbons, during the reign of Ferdinand VII in the early 19th century, buildings such as the Menagerie, the Royal Landing, and the Garden of Caprices (or Reserved Garden) were added, of which the Artificial Mountain and the Fisherman’s Cottage remain as vestiges.
In 1868, the park became part of the municipal heritage and was opened to the public for the enjoyment of Madrid’s residents. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, it hosted several international exhibitions, from which iconic buildings such as the Crystal Palace and the Velázquez Palace have survived.
Most of the monuments in El Retiro Park date from the 20th century, when, for example, the sculptural group of Alfonso XII and the equestrian statue of General Martínez Campos were conceived. Alongside these monuments, other notable green spaces include the Parterre, a French-style garden created at the behest of Philip V, the Rose Garden, and the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens, designed by the park’s head gardener in 1915 and 1940, respectively.
The Conservation of the Landscape of Light
Since the Landscape of Light was declared a World Heritage Site in 2021, the Madrid City Council, through its Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sport, has spearheaded extensive conservation, research, and enhancement efforts for this unique urban cultural landscape. This work has resulted in over 450 preventive conservation and restoration projects on sculptures, monuments, and other heritage elements located within this area.
Among the most significant interventions are the restoration of the monuments to Alfonso XII and General Martínez Campos in Retiro Park, works by Mariano Benlliure; the complex intervention on the sculpture of Hercules and the Hydra, also located in Retiro Park; and the comprehensive restorations carried out on the Fountain of Neptune and the Puerta de Alcalá, the latter of which was awarded the Europa Nostra Prize in 2025.
In addition to these projects, the restoration of the Cibeles Fountain began in July of this year, with an investment of €260,000 and a five-month timeframe. The work includes cleaning the monument’s surface, along with other structural improvements and material consolidation.
Furthermore, the fountain’s restoration process was opened to the public through the “Open for Restoration” program, offering 176 guided tours and 2,640 free places to observe the conservation work firsthand. Tickets, which could be reserved from July 23, were available for booking.
They sold out shortly after opening.
How to explore the Landscape of Light?
The Interpretation Center
Located in CentroCentro, in the Cibeles Palace, the Landscape of Light Interpretation Center offers a detailed look at this enclave: its historical, scenic, architectural, and urban values. Through panels, videos, and tablets, visitors can discover the history, art, nature, science, universal model, and everything that makes the Landscape of Light a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The centerpiece of this space is a scale model of the Landscape of Light onto which a video mapping projection traces, through a splendid display of light and color, the evolution of the site over the centuries. In addition, every six months, one of the organizations located within the Landscape of Light lends some of its pieces as a guest institution, allowing visitors to better appreciate the immense value they all hold.
The Madrid City Council’s GeoPortal
The Landscape of Light has its own space in this tool, which the Madrid City Council uses to facilitate the consultation, viewing, and downloading of municipal geographic information. Through the GeoPortal, users can view different indicators and data about the entire Landscape of Light, as well as the entities that comprise it.
The Landscape of Light App
Available on iOS and Android, the app “In the Landscape of Light” invites users to rediscover this area through an audio journey led by writer Javier Sierra. The app contains 11 podcasts to explore the Paseo del Prado, the Casón del Buen Retiro, the Casa Árabe, and the College of Physicians, revealing their hidden secrets and historical myths through conversations with various experts. The podcasts are also available in Spanish Sign Language.
Videos of the Landscape of Light
The Landscape of Light website features several videos showcasing this site from different perspectives: the “Landscape of Light World Heritage Site Nomination Video,” the “Landscape of Light Promotional Video,” the creative fiction video “We Are Now a World Heritage Site,” and “Landscape of Light from a Bird’s-Eye View,” created with footage produced and provided by the Madrid Municipal Police.
Website and Social Media
The Landscape of Light has a website, a YouTube channel, and social media profiles on Instagram and Facebook. These profiles share photographs and texts about the various features of the site, sometimes accompanied by anecdotes or historical facts that enrich the information. They also publish updates on activities and anniversaries related to the site. In addition, the hashtag #PaisajedelaLuz compiles all user-generated content related to this area.
The Landscape of Light on Screen
The Madrid Film Office has published a map featuring over 60 films and series shot in the Landscape of Light, stretching from Atocha to El Retiro Park. The brochure highlights 14 locations, including the Prado Museum, Plaza de Cibeles, and the Crystal Palace, listing the titles filmed there and providing QR codes with trailers, soundtracks, and image galleries.
