The American routes in Madrid

From the very moment that Christopher Columbus arrived at the American continent, the bond between Spain and this land across the Atlantic Ocean has remained strong and uninterrupted. Considering Madrid has been the capital of Spain since the mid-16th century, it is logical to assume that this city has been influenced by American culture as well. For instance, we know for a fact that Spain received dozens of objects from America during the early modern period, such as artworks and manuscripts. 

As a result, they created a project called América en Madrid. Patrimonios Interconectados e impacto turístico en la Comunidad de Madrid (“America in Madrid. Interconnected heritage and tourism impact in the Community of Madrid”). The research group behind said project is called AmerMad, and their main goal is to restore the knowledge regarding the American heritage they had in Madrid during the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as to reconsider the position said heritage should take in a more inclusive and multicultural approach towards the history of Spanish art. 

To that end, in 2022 AmerMad founded the “American routes of the Community of Madrid”, thanks to the co-funding of the Fondo Social Europeo and the Community of Madrid. This project consists of three routes that seek to explore the American culture and heritage in Spain’s capital city. All three routes can be enjoyed in an interactive way, with pictures, videos, oral and written guides, activities, etc. Besides, all of them can be complemented with delicious food from American countries. 

American routes in Madrid to enjoy its past and culture

The first route, perfect for the youngest ones

Museo de América

Museo de América. | Shutterstock

The first American route takes about four hours to finish and it is mostly aimed at families with kids between 7 and 12 years old. It departs from the Museo de América, a museum that is focused on reviewing the society, traditions, religion and overall reality of the American continent, and it does so by exhibiting several objects that recount its history from the pre-Hispanic period. 

After visiting this building, we will head to the Parque del Oeste. The green space that constitutes one of the largest parks in the city keeps a series of sculptures dedicated to important Hispanic-American historical figures, including Simón Bolívar, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Hernán Cortés. We can wrap up this route in the Peruvian restaurant of La Morocha, where the visitor will be able to enjoy another aspect of the Latin American culture: its amazing food. 

The second American route in Madrid: walking from a park into the sea

Monument to Cuba at the Retiro Park in Madrid

Monument to Cuba at the Retiro Park. | Shutterstock

If we keep tracing the American tracks in Madrid, we will come across the second route, which will take us about five hours to finish. This time, the tour starts outdoors, in the Buen Retiro Park, and it will end in the Naval Museum of Madrid. We will be able to enjoy the traditional Peruvian gastronomy too, in the restaurant called El Tamalito right between the park and the museum. 

But what does El Retiro have to do with Hispanic-American history, you might ask? Well, this park, just as Parque del Oeste, is full of monuments that honour its legacy. Some examples could be the monument to Cuba, the bust of famous Mexican singer and actor Pedro Vargas Mata, or the monument to Eloy Blanco, a poet, lawyer and politician from Venezuela. However, this is not the only connection the Buen Retiro Park has with America. Indeed, the Retiro is home to many plant species coming from that continent, like the liquidambar, the Chilean pepper tree, or the Arizona cypress. 

Beautiful staircase in the Naval Museum of Madrid

Beautiful staircase in the Naval Museum of Madrid. | Shutterstock

Apart from that, our visit to El Retiro must definitely include a stop in Casa de Fieras, Madrid’s first ever zoo. During its active years, between 1774 and 1972, this place welcomed a wide variety of animal species, most of which came from Iberian America. Likewise, the garden of La Rosaleda, following the pattern of the 20th-century French gardens and also located in the Retiro Park, was built in 1954 as a symbol of the connection between Madrid and Mexico City. 

As we said before, the second American route will end in the Naval Museum of Madrid. This museum tells the history of Spain from the period known as the Age of Discovery to the 19th century. There the visitor will find different navigational instruments, vessel models, and such remarkable objects as the map of Juan de la Cosa, the earliest known representation of America. 

The third route in Madrid: a look into South American customs 

A greenhouse at the Real Jardín Botánico

A greenhouse at the Real Jardín Botánico. | Shutterstock

The last American route in Madrid, which lasts about four hours, includes a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology and a walk through the Real Jardín Botánico (“Royal Botanical Garden”). Once again, we will finish the tour tasting Latin American delicacies. This time we will eat at the Argentinian bar called La Yapa, in the market of Antón Martín. 

Our visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, the first anthropological museum in Spain, will focus on the second floor, which is dedicated to American cultures. This particular section of the museum explores the customs and lifestyle of different cultures of South American countries through a series of objects and human remains. 

Additionally, the Real Jardín Botánico plays an important role in the connection between both continents. As a matter of fact, the botanical garden welcomed the findings of the Spanish scientific expeditions in America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Many among the 5000 species coming from all over the world belong to countries in South and Central America. There are some places that stand out in the botanical garden in this respect, like the greenhouses of Santiago Castroviejo and Graells. 

You can also read this article in the Feeling Madrid page of the Community of Madrid.


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