The Alameda Central is one of the most iconic and well-known parks in Mexico City, this is because it holds countless anecdotes dating back to the colonial era, it is even considered the oldest park in the capital and the Americas, since at the time of its construction there was no such place in the region.
Since it was built to date, it has undergone several changes, however, during the Second Mexican Empire the place underwent notable transformations. The main author of these modifications was Empress Charlotte of Habsburg, one of the protagonists of the many events that stand out most on this site, but what is the treasure that the Belgian woman left to the Alameda?
If you are a chilango or if you have visited the center of the capital, you should know that this corner, located in front of the Palace of Fine Arts, is a must-see destination, as you can enjoy a pleasant view and several sculptures, including the Venus fountain led by zephyri by the French sculptor Mathurin Moreau , an item that was donated by Carlota Amelia.
The illustrious woman left this European heritage to the park because, according to information from Mexico City, this was one of her favorite places while she and her husband Maximilian of Habsburg were at the helm of the country. The empress used to go very often, so she decided to modify it and give it a better look.
It should be noted that during the time of the Second Mexican Empire, the Alameda Central became one of the most visited points by the Mexican aristocracy, since at that time, the women of the upper classes were used to “copying” everything their ruler did.
In addition to having ordered the iconic fountain of Venus to be brought in, he ordered that roses be planted to further beautify the public space, since due to the political conflicts that the country had gone through before, different areas of the capital had not been paid attention to different areas of the capital, including this park.
Life in the City is lived so fast that surely more than one person was unaware of this particular detail that gives identity to one of the most outstanding parts of CDMX. It should be added that the structure was planned in the 16th century when Viceroy Luis de Velasco asked for a place to be built where the inhabitants could spend their free time and breathe fresh air.
Another interesting fact about the oldest park in America is that it was born in 1592 and the Mexican work was inspired by the Alameda de Hercules in the city of Seville, which is also considered the oldest, but in Spain and Europe.
Likewise, it was given the name “Alameda” because in previous centuries in the area there was the presence of poplars that were planted on the edge of the current avenues of Hidalgo and Juárez, however, with the passage of time they were replaced by willows and ash trees.
The present aspect of the natural heart of the Historic Center is the result of the various restructuring that it has undergone throughout history. Among the most recent renovations, the one carried out in 2012 stands out, when after 8 months of work it was possible to give a new look to the establishment with new trees and marble floors.
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