This is a memorable park ,one of the first ones I ever visited in Madrid since 1970. In my quest to search for pictures found again in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, I had a great satisfaction of re living these wonderful places of mine. Therefore, let me tell you again on the Real Jardin Botanico of Madrid, part III !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
My continuing saga to show the beauty of my beloved Madrid continues. This is something you come as a child and sticks with you. My dear late mom Gladys brought me here first, and then I took my dear late wife Martine, and then with my dear late Dad Elio and my boys and then again. It is very nice, educational and family fun for all. This is a treasure chest of history and fun knowledge right in the famous triangle of museums of Madrid. Do read my other posts on it in my blog and of course, why not Madrid !
The current site of the royal botanical garden or the Real Jardin Botanico is not accidental and responds to the interest of the enlightened monarch, Carlos III, to create a complex dedicated to the natural sciences in Madrid. That is why it was located next to what today is the Prado Museum, which at the end of the 18C was the Museum of Natural Sciences. The scientific spirit is currently preserved as the space is managed by the Higher Council for Scientific Research, which organizes a multitude of activities of an informative nature, such as conferences and exhibitions. Its collections include a herbarium with more than a million spreads, the library and archive, with about 10,000 drawings, as well as the sample of 5,000 species of living plants. Located officially at Plaza de Murillo, 2,and best going there on Metro Atocha line 1, Atocha Renfe train station metro stop and line 2 Banco de Espana.
There is an entrance on the side of Paseo del Prado, the Puerta Real (Royal Gate), is designed as a triumphal arch, very similar to the one at the Glorieta de San Vicente, and features an inscription written by its director, the botanist Casimiro Gómez Ortega. In 1976, during the restoration of the Botanical Garden, it was decided to move the two stone sentry boxes to this location.
There is an interesting statue here of the scientist Antonio José Cavanilles y Palop stands on the Paseo Alto de Casimiro Gómez Ortega, within the Botanical Garden, established by Royal Order on July 25, 1774. The honoree was born in Valencia in 1745 and died in Madrid in 1804, having served as director of this institution for three years prior. It was in Paris that he discovered his passion for botany, while tutoring the children of the Duke of Infantado. This knowledge, combined with his experience managing the Botanical Garden, allowed him to make it a leading institution in Spain and Europe. His early death prevented him from completing his work, “Hortus Regius Matritensis,” which included the rich and varied botanical collection.
Specifically, to adorn the central plazas of each of the sections on the two lower terraces, these 29 identical small fountains were created, linked by intermediate walkways, which contribute to unifying the ensemble and emphasizing its geometric and rational structure.
It is done on terraces and told in previous posts so will be very brief on this one: The Terraza de los Cuadros (or portraits) is the terrace located below and the most spacious of all. The Terraza de las Escuelas Botanicas ( botanical schools) ;this second terrace is a little smaller than the previous one. The Terraza del Plano de la Flor (map of the flower) this is the highest terrace and a little more reduced, with a romantic style. The Terraza Alta o de los Laureles (High Terrace or laurels) , this terrace added as an extension of the garden in 2005, is of much smaller dimensions than the previous ones and is behind the Villanueva pavilion.
You find as well the most important herbarium in Spain, bringing together nearly a million spreads, some from the 18C. The Library of the Royal Botanical Garden was formed at the same time as the garden grew. Currently at last count, the library consists of some 30 000 books of everything related to botany, 2075 titles of periodic publications, some 26 000 leaflets or separate chucks , 3000 titles in microfiche, 2500 maps. It has facilities and equipment suitable for Internet consultation, reading and reproduction, on paper, microfiche and microfilm, photocopying of books and magazines and scanning zenith. The Germplasm Bank since its foundation, the Royal Botanical Garden maintains a seed exchange with other institutions around the world. The relationship of the seeds that can be exchanged is published annually in a publication called Index Seminum, which is distributed to more than 500 gardens and research centers.
A bit of history I like tell us that it was founded by Royal Order of 17 October 1755 by King Fernando VI in the spot of Soto de Migas Calientes, near the Manzanares River, king Carlos III ordered the transfer to his current situation in 1781,at Paseo del Prado, next to the Museum of Natural Sciences that was being built (current Prado Museum). Later, king Fernando VI installed in 1755 by the orchard of Migas Calientes (currently Iron gate=Puerta del Hierro, on the banks of the Manzanares river) creating the Royal Botanical Garden. The continuous extension of the garden led king Carlos III to give instructions in 1774 to move it to its current location in the Paseo del Prado , within the program of management of the Prado and Atocha construction. That between 1774 and 1781 year of the inauguration with a distribution in three levels, and part of the enclosure, which highlights the Royal gate (Paseo del Prado)(see pic) .The enclosure was closed by an elegant iron gate, seated on granite stone and had two access doors: the aforementioned Real Puerta de Sabatini, Classic style with doric columns and pediment, and another secondary, In front of the Prado Museum, which currently accesses the enclosure ,current Plaza de Murillo.
The garden became the recipient of the scientific expeditions that sponsored the Crown in this period. Between the 18C and 19C it participated in the development of at least five scientific expeditions, including the Royal Botanical Expedition of the New Kingdom of Granada (present-day Colombia), the botanical expedition to the Viceroyalty of Peru, the Royal Botanical Expedition to New Spain (present-day Mexico), the expedition around the world, and the Scientific commission of the Pacific (now Philippines) It contains approximately 5,000 different species of trees and plants around the world. In 1893, opens the calle de los libreros (street of booksellers and popularly known as Cuesta de Claudio Moyano, and cutting one end of the main body of the garden, so its surface is reduced to the current eight hectares. The street is famous for its book stalls with many of them selling old or second-hand books,
The official Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid: https://rjb.csic.es/
The Madrid tourist office on the Royal Botanical Garden: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/royal-botanic-gardens
The Superior Council of Scientific Investigation on the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid: https://www.csic.es/es/el-csic/organizacion/institutos-centros-y-unidades/real-jardin-botanico
The Digital Library of the Royal Botanical garden of Madrid: https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/en/
There you go folks, a wonderful space worthy of a visit or two, the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid is awesome, educational, scientific, and naturally beautiful. It should be fun for the whole family. Again ,hope you enjoy this post on the Real Jardin Botanico of Madrid, part III !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels ,good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 