Parque Lineal del Manzanares

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

Parque Lineal del Manzanares is an enormous green space which covers the municipalities of Madrid, Getafe and Rivas. This open space is divided into three large sections, with the result that we can enjoy nature as well as archaeological remains which enable us to know about civilizations that lived in the area hundreds of years ago. The first section, called Tramo I, extends from the Usera district to the Puente de Vallecas district.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

This green lung, located in the south of Madrid, turns out to be a very pleasant place to go for walks and to detox from the stress and noise produced by the great city. We recommend those who have never been there, to visit it as it is not only a beautiful place to go for a walk but it also offers leisure and sports facilities. The second section, called Tramo II, is very different as it is not urbanized. However, it has great propietary interest as well as impressive scenery. This Tramo II, is located even more to the south of Madrid and it covers the districts of Villaverde and Villa de Vallecas. It is mostly farm land and orchards with different plantations.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

Lastly, the third section, called Tramo III, extends to the mouth of the river Manzanares and hence the name given. Tramo III is in fact an extension of Tramo II because it follows the course of the river. It is indeed a very attractive and imperative tour for nature lovers who are also fond of scenery which is full of special charm. In this blog, some time ago, we wrote an article about the curious and interesting Puente de la CulebraToday, we will visit one of the open spaces in our region which is called Parque Lineal del Manzanares.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

WALKS, VIEWPOINTS, SPORTS, REST

In this article, it proves impossible to write about everything that Parque Lineal del Manzanares comprises, as this would take up a lot of space. Therefore, we have decided to talk only about some of the most noteworthy details. As we have already mentioned, the first section, called Tramo I, is urban.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

Undoubtedly, the most recognisable part of it is the 13-metre high statue of Cabeza de Ariadna. This sculpture is located in Mirador de la Atalaya, which is one of the two viewpoints in the park. When you walk up the steps that lead to the viewpoint, after having got your breath back, you will be able to enjoy the awesome views over Madrid. This is the favourite place to take impressive panoramic photographs of the city.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

The second viewpoint faces the south of Madrid and even though it does not have an official name, it is commonly known as Montaña Forestal. It is believed that in the old days defensive watchtowers were built here by the Muslims.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

In the park, the Plaza Verde building stands out. It is an auditorium that resembles a Roman Theatre due to its semi-circular form, and inside you can enjoy shows and performances.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

In the park, you may take countless walks and you can find fountains, leisure facilities for children, benches where you can stop for a rest, appealing corners with natural environment… If we mention two examples, we want to highlight the path that leads to Parque Belvedere as well as the one known as Paseo de los Sentidos which comes out from Plaza Verde.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

We also want to mention the important archaeological remains found at the edge of the park, in Cerro de la Gavia. Here, we can also see Poblado de la Gavia which had been occupied by the Carpetans in the III century BC until the III century AD. In this part of the park, you can also see some Roman archaeological sites.

Parque Lineal del Manzanares

THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PARK

At present, there is a difference of opinion about how to shape the future of Parque Lineal del Manzanares. It is an unquestionable reality that the conservation policies of the park carried out until now, have not been sufficient as all reports show that there has been progressive degeneration of the natural environment during the last three decades. The sustainability of the area is not assured due to the illegal rubbish dumps, bad planning and controversial building works all of which have modified the structure of the park leading to its deterioration and creating a threat to the ecosystem. For this reason, it is essential to carry out plans which allow its subsistence and development. We must remember that there is a lot at stake as it is an enormous area where nature and historical heritage come together. This is why it is imperative to take care of Parque Lineal del Manzanares and to value and appreciate it as it deserves to be, so that Madrileños can enjoy going there.

Picture 01: DXR

Pictures 03 and 10: La Citta Vita

Pictures 04 and 05: José A

Picture 06: Olga Berrios

Pictures 07 and 08: Concepción Amat Orta

Picture 09: Ayuntamiento de Madrid

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