The Aranjuez gardens become a classroom this summer

rose marquez

The seminar "Aranjuez, Landscape, and Time," led by professors Alicia Pascual and Daniel Ruiz, offers an interdisciplinary approach to the municipality's natural environment, combining theoretical classes with practical workshops and immersive activities. This year's seminar focused on time.

For two days, participants explored how the landscape is constructed and inhabited in Aranjuez, a city conceived as a symbol of power, but also as a refuge. The program included a guided walk through the Jardín del Príncipe (Prince's Garden), a visit to the La Chimenea Environmental Training Center, and practices for connecting with nature, such as forest bathing or a workshop dedicated to interacting with trees, taught by agricultural engineer Anael Hervás.

"The goal is to broaden our perception of trees and their role in landscapes, as well as to suggest a series of tools for connecting with them."

Trees are living archives of time, says Hervás. “They live a long time and, therefore, are witnesses of history. They also preserve memories. By studying their tree rings, for example, we can learn about each era.”

Along with their symbolic and scientific value, trees are also a source of well-being:

“Connecting with nature has multiple benefits. Just a 20-minute walk through a garden—one of the many in Aranjuez—transforms your emotional state. Physically, it lowers your blood pressure, and psychologically, it allows you to connect with yourself,” he says.

During the seminar, there was also time for art, with a haikus workshop led by poet Montserrat Doucet and a discussion with painter Blanca Prieto.

This summer course has become an annual event for those who wish to discover and experience the Aranjuez landscape, its architectural richness, and the beauty of its natural surroundings from a fun and multidisciplinary perspective.