The book 'Retiro and Its Neighborhoods' by José María Sánchez Molledo and J. Nicolás Ferrando has recently released its eagerly anticipated third edition. This publication, which includes a foreword by the district councilor, Santiago Saura, offers readers a unique and nostalgic journey through the six neighborhoods that make up Madrid's Retiro district: Pacífico, Adelfas, Niño Jesús, Estrella, Ibiza and Jerónimos.
The work is distinguished by its more than 200 vintage images that invite readers on a fascinating journey through time, allowing them to discover how these neighborhoods were perceived by our parents and grandparents, and illustrating the evolution they have undergone over the years. A curious and meaningful detail is that some of these neighborhoods, previously considered peripheral, are now in the very heart of Madrid, thus showing the growth and transformation of the city.
This book is a visual delight with its historical photographs, many of which are surprising and distant from how we know the city today. Additionally, this retrospective can help the people of Madrid to better appreciate the current spaces, infrastructures, and services.
Among the architectural jewels of the district stand the Royal Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, with an image of the Virgin dating from the 11th century; the Pantheon of Illustrious Men; the Campanile, evocative of the Tower of St. Mark in Venice; and the Royal Tapestry Factory, founded by Philip V in 1720. Monuments of undoubted cultural value, such as the Puerta de Alcalá, the Casón del Buen Retiro, the Palacio de Cibeles, the Church of Los Jerónimos, and the Daoiz y Velarde Barracks, are also described in detail in the publication.
Additionally, the Landscape of Light, recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, includes the Paseo del Prado, its tree-lined avenue, the Botanical Garden, the Prado Museum, and the Buen Retiro Gardens. This recognition adds exceptional value to the district, to Madrid and to Spain as a whole.
José María Sánchez Molledo and J. Nicolás Ferrando are authors with extensive experience in Madrid's history and culture. Ferrando, an Argentine editor closely tied to Spain, has a prolific literary career that includes essays such as «San Isidro y el sueño de Madrid», «Chueca», «Letras el barrio de Cervantes» and «Barrio de Salamanca, Mujeres Célebres en Madrid», among others. For his part, Sánchez Molledo, a PhD in History and a contributor to the Institute of Madrilenian Studies, is known for works such as "Carabanchel, a district with history", "Latina", and "Usera".
The collaboration between both authors has also given rise to another recent release: 'Retiro en Tarjeta Postal'. This book, likewise prefaced by Santiago Saura and published by Artelibro Editorial, focuses its attention on the emblematic El Retiro Park. In Ferrando's words, the publication of 'Retiro en Postales' is timely, celebrating the recent recognition of the park as a World Heritage Site, which reinforces its value as a green and architectural treasure in the heart of Madrid.
With this third edition of «Retiro y sus barrios», Sánchez Molledo and Ferrando consolidate their position as exceptional chroniclers of Madrid, offering readers an invaluable window into the past and present of one of the capital's most iconic districts.
Fuente: Diario.Madrid.es
