• Urbanism The plan to rescue the (forgotten) wall of Madrid: "There are sections that require detective work"

The brave who yesterday, despite the harsh thermometer, tried to crown the Cuesta de la Vega on foot, most of them in search of the Almudena Cathedral, took a breather in the middle of the journey and directed their gaze towards the future Museum of Collections real.

From time to time, the occasional vehicle would go up the slope next to that same sidewalk.

Next summer the scene will not be repeated.

At least not in the same way.

This same week, the Works and Equipment Area of ​​the Madrid City Council will begin work to improve one of the entrances to the museum which, barring a setback, will also be in operation next summer.

Of course, these works and the opening of the enclosure that will house the Royal Collections of National Heritage, at the foot of the cathedral, are not related, despite the fact that, presumably, the outcome of both will coincide in time.

According to the information to which GRAN MADRID has had access, the project that is about to start up will have a municipal investment of 1.3 million euros.

An amount destined to act on an area of ​​9,130 ​​square meters, with the aim of adapting the public space in front of the southern entrance to Campo del Moro that is located in front of the Cuesta de la Vega.

The intention is to create a space to welcome visitors to this new cultural space, which will have 40,000 square meters, 8,000 for public visits and three exhibition floors arranged chronologically, from the first reigns of the Middle Ages to the present day, which will be inaugurated with 650 pieces.

bus dock

And to facilitate future access to this Museum of Royal Collections, a series of actions will be carried out in this corner, which is part of the historical complex of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

For example, in the Paseo de la Ciudad de Plasencia, a dock will be set up where the buses that arrive with museum visitors will stop.

It will not be a permanent parking lot, but rather a loading and unloading place for groups of tourists.

A tree-lined square with benches and shade will be created on that north sidewalk as a waiting place for travelers who are going to start or have just finished their visit to the cultural site.

The Cuesta de la Vega, with the Royal Collections Museum in the background. JAVIER BARBANCHOMUNDO

The Cuesta de la Vega will have a key role, since it will be one of the entrances to the new gallery.

For this, the northern loop will be pedestrianized around this historic slope, with universal accessibility to the Campo del Moro gate.

The pedestrian space will be paved with rhomboid granite slabs and a level of finishes similar to that of the museum.

Obviously, this land intended for pedestrianization requires a change of script.

And in this case, it will force to solve the ascent and descent to the Cuesta de la Vega with a single two-way road, located in the farthest part of the museum.

The new area for pedestrians will have better access to the Cuesta gardens themselves.

The agreement with Heritage

In this attractive environment, the plant surface will be expanded with the planting of new leafy species, with the aim of generating an increase in environmental, thermal and landscape comfort conditions.

Soil permeability will also be improved through sustainable urban drainage systems and public lighting will be changed to one with high energy efficiency.

This transformation of the landscape will include the integration of the park and garden maintenance canton located in the Atenas park, with another new access.

An action that is part of the commitments acquired in the agreement signed almost two years ago (February 2021) between the City Council and National Heritage for the improvement of access to the historic complex of the Royal Palace.

Curiously, last Friday, at the gates of Fitur, the Minister of Tourism and candidate for mayor for the PSOE,

Reyes Maroto

, assured that if she arrives at the Palacio de Cibeles she will sign, precisely, a collaboration protocol with National Heritage, something that it was completed almost 24 months ago, and it would give the Museum of Royal Collections a boost.

As a result of that 2021 agreement, two elevators were installed to save the level between the Sabatini Gardens and the Cuesta de San Vicente, and the public transport stops were relocated to facilitate pedestrian traffic to Campo del Moro.

Now comes the metamorphosis of that piece of history of the capital that is the Cuesta de la Vega.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Articles Carlos Guisasola

  • Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida