Right here in Madrid is the Placa Parque Galicia a tribute to the northwestern Spanish region. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Galicia. This is a place where history and culture intertwine.
Originally, this space was simply known as the station square. The old Pontevedra railway station operated here starting in 1884. Imagine the bustling scene with the arrival of the first locomotive. In 1966, the station became disused with a new station built further from the city center. It was demolished in 1969.
Before it was the Placa Parque Galicia, the square was enlarged in 1971. It was designed for trolleybus stops. Trolleybuses crossed the city then. The square was mainly for traffic until 1988 when trolleybus lines stopped running.
In 1991, the square was transformed. Architect Josu00e9 Martu00ednez Sarandeses redesigned it. He collaborated with Maru00eda Agustina Herrero Malina, Fernando Martu00ednez Sarandeses, and landscape architect Maru00eda Medina Muro. The redesign improved the environment. It also reduced traffic. The square’s current look dates from this time.
The Placa Parque Galicia covers 5800 square meters in a rectangular shape. Augusto Garcu00eda Su00e1nchez Avenue intersects it. You will see Agusto Gonzu00e1lez Besada, Andru00e9s Muruais and Andru00e9s Mellado streets converging here.
Notice the garden square layout. Dutch ornamental ash trees line the square. Benches are placed throughout. The avenue divides into two one-way traffic lanes. Buildings border the north, west, and east sides. The south side opens to the Campolongo neighborhood with a central bus shelter. It has ten benches and a glass back panel.
The central pedestrian garden is very distinctive. There are four peripheral alleys. Each has two rows of ash trees. Flowerbeds and lawns border them. A fifth alley connects the northern pavements of the avenue’s two sections.
At the garden’s center is a circular area. It has benches for quiet moments. An ornamental fountain features sprinklers embedded in the ground. These sprinklers spray water. Granite blocks surround the fountain. They are grouped in seven sets. These sets evoke the stars of the Galician coat of arms. They refer to the square’s name.
A cruceiro stands here too. It is similar to crosses found throughout Galicia. Feliciano Barrera donated it. Eduardo Parrado Conde created it. Stone from Poio and Lugo was used. The base features the shields of Galicia’s four provinces.
The Placa Parque Galicia is more than just a square. It’s a tribute to a region. It shows the transformation of a space over time. Take a moment to appreciate the blend of history, nature, and Galician pride.