Towering over the Rosaleda’s edge stands the Pino Carrasco de la Rosaleda del Retiro. Its imposing presence is undeniable. This isn’t just any pine tree. This is a Madrid landmark. A survivor.
The Pino Carrasco de la Rosaleda del Retiro is more than just a tree. It’s a living testament to history. It’s a centenarian reaching for the sky. Its height is an impressive 35 meters. Its crown spreads almost 21 meters wide. The trunk’s circumference measures 2.7 meters. Planted around the late 18th century it has silently witnessed centuries unfold in Retiro Park.
Imagine the construction of the park itself. The sounds of workers. The whispers of the first seeds planted. This magnificent Pinus halepensis endured. It weathered storms. The great cyclone of 1886 for instance. Many trees fell that day. The Pino Carrasco of Retiro stood tall. It thrived despite a rather regular conservation status. Its trunk bears the marks of time and weather. Its surroundings are impacted by the dense crowds around it.
Its specific name halepensis points to Aleppo in northern Syria. That’s where these tough pines originally thrived. They need Mediterranean climates. Lots of sun. Not too much rain or cold. These pines love dry hillsides. Especially on limestone or gypsum soils. They grow near the coast. You can find them from sea level to 1000 meters. Some even grow up to 1600 meters in southern mountain ranges. Our Pino Carrasco at 670 meters is perfectly situated.
Legends surround the pine. The Bible mentions it. So does Greek mythology. They revered it. Dedicated to the worship of Dionysus. Pliny is said to have named Ibiza and Formentera the Pitusa Islands. The reason? Their abundance of these very pines.
The Pino Carrasco de la Rosaleda del Retiro isn’t simply a beautiful tree. It’s a protected tree. Number 117 to be exact. A singular tree of the Community of Madrid. It’s part of the ‘Landscape of Light’. A cultural landscape. Designated a World Heritage site in 2021.
Today you stand before this living monument. A silent observer. A survivor of centuries. A testament to the enduring strength of nature. Remember its story. Remember the Pino Carrasco de la Rosaleda del Retiro.