Long ago Chopera was a grassy meadow. It was part of a larger area the Arganzuela meadows. Imagine cattle grazing peacefully. This land belonged to the lord of the Arganzuela Mill. A legal dispute in 1427 confirmed the village’s ownership. The town council wanted a common pasture. The Catholic Monarchs granted their wish in 1492. More land was added. The Arganzuela common was created. Locals could graze their animals there. Chopera was part of it. The exact borders remain unclear. It likely stretched from Doctor Vallejo-Nágera Street to the river.
Then came the reign of King Fernando VI. He created promenades in Madrid’s south. They led to the river. They were also recreational areas for the people. These promenades formed a three-pronged pattern from Emperor Carlos V square. Chopera sits between two. One led to the Delicias area along the river. Another went to the Santa María de la Cabeza hermitage. Many promenades were named after the trees planted there. The Paseo de la Chopera got its name from the poplar trees that grew there.
Carlos III approved construction of the Royal Canal of Manzanares in 1770. This was meant to make the Manzanares navigable. It would reach the Tagus and eventually Seville. The canal’s head was placed in the Arganzuela meadows. However many landowners had already taken some of the land. New border disputes arose. The canal was only finished in Rivas-Vaciamadrid. Its most important spot was the landing stage near Prague Bridge. It had wharves workshops and warehouses. This area was known as “the landing stage” until the 20th century. Work in 1818 added aesthetic improvements. A marble lion was placed on a pedestal. Two granite staircases led to the tree-lined walkways. An iron gate with allegories of trade and navigation was added.
Problems with leaks and collapses and low water flow led to the canal’s decline. The railway made transport easier. The semi-abandoned canal became a source of epidemics. It was finally drained in 1859. The Matadero the former slaughterhouse was built near the canal. It was a huge complex a small city in itself. Its construction started in 1910. It included a church the current Clock House. The neo-Mudejar style buildings were finished in 1925. They covered the southwest half of the neighborhood. Chopera became a place of industry and homes. The M-30 highway later isolated the neighborhood. It separated Chopera from the river. This lasted for decades. The Matadero closed in 1998. The area was transformed. A large greenhouse the Crystal Palace of Arganzuela and other cultural centers were built. The M-30 highway was placed underground. This created Madrid Río a park giving access to the river. Today Chopera is a lively modern neighborhood with a rich history.