El Paseo del Espolón is for the locals the promenade par excellence. It is certainly the place to see and be seen.

It dates from the second half of the 18th century and it has a varied number of plant species. Along the promenade there are statues of different Kings from the Royal Palace of Madrid, as well as numerous remarkable buildings, such as the Gate of Santa María, the Town Hall, the Teatro Principal and the Provincial Council.

El Espolón was built immediately after the construction of the Town Hall. In order to start working on this promenade, the whole of the front of the City Walls, between the bridges of San Pablo and Santa María, was demolished. Works started in 1791 following a project by architect González de Lara. One of the outstanding features of El Espolón are the intertwined branches of its plane trees.

Paseo del Espoloncillo:

This leafy promenade is situated on the left bank of the river Arlanzón. It was built on the side of the riverbank during the period of the French Invasion. It was gradually improved, during the 19th Century, with new plantations of trees and the construction of ornamental fountains, although the latter no longer exist. In 1947, a monument was erected paying homage to El Cid.

From this promenade and under huge chestnut trees, you can contemplate from a distance, the beauty of El Espolón, the Arch of Santa María and the spires of the Cathedral in the background, as well as a landscape of weeping willows, white poplars, yews and acacia trees next to the river.