Recognize this place? This is San Nicasio. It is a neighborhood with a strong personality in Leganés. San Nicasio stands in the northwestern part of the urban area.
Do you know where the name comes from? The name San Nicasio comes from the hermitage. It was built between 1772 and 1780. Architect Ventura Rodríguez designed it. The Marquis of Leganés commissioned the work. The hermitage still stands. It was rebuilt in the 1950s.
San Nicasio has a rich history. It began as an expansion of Leganés old town. This expansion went northwest across the C-5 railway. Many homes here are small apartment blocks. They are five stories tall and have no elevator. These were Leganés first apartment blocks. They were built in the 1940s and 1950s.
Once, San Nicasio had an aging population. However, that has changed. Students from Carlos III University now live here. Also, immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa have arrived. They have revitalized the streets of San Nicasio. The neighborhood has grown. Expansions include Quinto Centenario and Campo de Tiro. The socioeconomic level has risen. Young families have moved in. San Nicasio is now a working-class family neighborhood.
Do you know about the Extremaduran immigrants? In 1963, the Valdecaña reservoir flooded Talavera la Vieja. This Extremaduran town disappeared under water. 134 people were relocated to San Nicasio. They formed a commission. They got the city to name a plaza after their town. The Plaza de Talavera la Vieja is next to Extremadura Street. A commemorative plaque marks the spot since 1994.
For a long time, a military road divided San Nicasio. It linked Madrid barracks to the railway. The road was rarely used. Trains often derailed because of poor maintenance. This division is gone now. The boulevard Paquita Gallego now crosses San Nicasio.
San Nicasio has seen changes. Some old buildings have been demolished. Modern buildings have replaced them. These new buildings match the area’s style. Remodeled areas include underground parking. There are also trees and playgrounds.
New expansions occurred in the 1990s. They are Quinto Centenario and Campo de Tiro. Also, there is Paseo de la Ermita. These areas have fewer people. They combine houses with apartment buildings.
Did you know about the planned changes in San Nicasio? There was a plan for urban renewal. The city wanted to redevelop the San Nicasio neighborhood. This would have meant demolishing and rebuilding homes. The project faced many challenges.
San Nicasio celebrates its patron saint’s day on October 11. San Nicasio is one of Leganés two patron saints. The fair is usually in the Campo de Tiro area. According to tradition, Saint Nicasius protected Leganés Christians. He saved them from an earthquake or floods.
Paquita Gallego lived in San Nicasio. She founded the “Mother of Joy” Soup Kitchen. She received a Gold Medal for her work in 2007. Today, a boulevard in San Nicasio bears her name.
San Nicasio stands as a testament to community. It is a place of change and resilience. From its historic hermitage to its modern boulevards, San Nicasio continues to evolve.