In July 2021, the Paseo del Prado and the Buen Retiro Gardens were inscribed on the World Heritage List, with the support of the 21 countries that are part of the Committee, meeting in its 44th session online from Fuzhou (China).
The Buen Retiro Gardens were conceived by Philip IV in the 17th century as a recreational space for the kings of the House of Austria. During the Bourbon era, they grew in space and facilities.
Ferdinand VII redefined the environment, giving rise to new buildings and places such as the Casa de Fieras, the Real Embarcadero and the Jardín de Caprichos or Reservado, of which some buildings remain, such as the Artificial Mountain and the Casita del Pescador (Fisherman's House).
Today it is one of the largest green lungs of the capital, being water one of the most important elements that has its greatest representation in the Great Pond, along with the extensive and diverse vegetation that compose it.
Charles III arrives in Spain as king after the death of his brother Ferdinand VI without descendants and brings with him his enlightened and rational ideas acquired during his reign in Naples.
These ideas are reflected when he projects the realization of the Paseo del Prado, a wide space that should encompass Art, Science, Education, Elegance, Comfort and Beauty.
In its choice, UNESCO highlights the importance of combining nature, culture and science in an urban environment, something that made Madrid the first sustainable capital of Europe as early as the 16th century.
The stamp features a beautiful illustration of the Palacio de Cristal, which was built at the end of the 19th century to house an exhibition of tropical flora brought from the Philippines, but now stands out as a tourist attraction and as a center for exhibitions and different cultural events.
