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INTRODUCTION
Distance: 2,905 kilometers
Technical difficulty: Low
Path: Linear
Identifying Color: YELLOW
Healthy Route 3 runs partly through various city parks and partly through different streets and squares in the Centro District, connecting the parks. It begins at La Vega Garden, crosses Salvador Allende Boulevard to enter Murcia Park, continues through various streets and squares in the Centro District to Cataluña Park, and then runs again through several streets to University Park and Castilla La Mancha Park. Along the way, in addition to enjoying the different types of vegetation, as well as the lakes and ornamental fountains in the parks, you can visit the various unique spots dotted along the healthy route.
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1. Vega Garden - Hills Area - Olympic Avenue
The Jardín de la Vega is a large linear park that runs parallel to a canal through which the false Arroyo de la Vega flows. In its final section, we find two viewpoints located on two artificial hills surrounded by grass and a Fruit Garden, with a steep but fun access and from where you can appreciate a wide view of Alcobendas and the great expanse of the garden.
2. Man Moving Sculpture - Stephan Balkenhol - Salvador Allende Boulevard
The artist speaks of his interest in reintroducing the human figure into contemporary art. Balkenhol seeks objectivity and neutrality in human representation. As he himself points out, they are beautiful, quiet figures that say a lot and nothing at the same time. As viewers, we sense this man, familiar and distant at the same time. The pedestal helps display the piece at a certain height, but without the intention of hierarchical isolation. The artist offers us the beginning or a fragment of a story about contemporary men and women, whose ending is not revealed, and which we, as viewers, must complete.
3. Church of San Pedro - Felipe Alvarez Gadea Square
The current parish church of San Pedro de Alcobendas is the heir to a previously disappeared church that occupied the same site. There is evidence that a Muslim mosque may have stood on the site of the original church. Horseshoe arches of undeniable Muslim design in the apse and an Arabic inscription appeared during the most recent renovation in 1996. In 1843, the tower collapsed, and with it a large part of the historic church. On March 19, 1849, work began on the church's reconstruction, with the laying of the foundation stone, receiving financial support from the residents of Alcobendas, living in Madrid and other towns.
The church consists of three large naves, and the presbytery is separated from the rest of the church by an iron railing. In 1936, the church was subjected to vandalism, in which many images were destroyed and the altarpiece was set on fire. This removed much of the historical evidence of the church's and Alcobendas's past. After the war, a major renovation was undertaken, resulting in the high altarpiece we know today.
4. Catalonia Park - Marqués de la Valdivia Street - Chopera Promenade
This public park is located in the Centro district, with access via Marqués de Valdivia Street, Paseo de la Chopera, Isla de Córcega Street, and Navarra Street. It covers an area of 16,710 square meters. Parque de Cataluña was recently remodeled due to the construction of the Marqués de Valdivia Metro station and reopened in April 2007. Its design is reminiscent of Gaudí's Park Güell in Barcelona. It is equipped with lakes, ornamental fountains, a bandstand, a viewing platform, and children's playgrounds. The most notable feature is the fountain dedicated to the Sardana, located in the upper plaza, where sculptures linked by hands seem to move to the rhythm of traditional Catalan music.
5. Zen Garden Area - Pintor Murillo Roundabout - Adolfo Romero Street
The Zen garden, also known as a dry garden, originates in Japan. Its basic elements are sand, gravel, or stones, with no plants, flowers, or the color green. Its main objective is to promote serenity and meditation. Its beauty is based on minimalism and symbolism. The meaning of the undulations of gravel and sand in this garden is to represent the plowed fields of Castile.
