Jerez is one of the cities with the greatest number of trees in Spain and one of the first cities in Europe to celebrate the Tree Festival, dated 1898. It currently has nine gardens declared of Cultural Interest, with over one hundred trees catalogued as singular due to their rarity, appearance or uniqueness, and one of the oldest boulevards in the world, Las Angustias.
With the “Spice Route” we invite you to discover the origins and history of the trees in the city on a tour involving sensations and events in both space and time. Travel through a labyrinth of occurrences, including the first species of tree in Jerez, following a timeline from the 18th century to the present day.
The Spice Route offers three itineraries of great botanical, historical and heritage interest that commence in Alameda Cristina, nerve centre of the city, and tour the squares, gardens and streets of the Central, Northern and Western zones of Jerez.
![[Translate to Español:] Alameda Cristina](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/3/f/csm_Alameda_Cristina_0b10567dd1.jpg)
Cristina’s Boulevard
The origins of Cristina’s boulevard were the wilds known as Llano de San Sebastian, a public space just outside the walled city.
![[Translate to Español:] Alameda Vieja](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/c/d/csm_Alameda_Vieja_Templete_328edf3f4e.jpg)
The Old Poplar Grove
The now known as Alameda Vieja is one of the oldest and emblematic garden squares in Jerez.
![[Translate to Español:] Plaza Angustias](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/b/e/csm_Pza_Las_Angustias_e6590c199a.jpg)
Angustias SquareIn 1575, this square was known as Llanos de las Angustias.
In 1575, this square was known as Llanos de las Angustias.
![[Translate to Español:] Parque Gonzalez Hontoria](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/0/9/csm_Parque_Gonzalez_Hontoria_1904f1bedc.jpg)
González Hontoria Park
The origin of Gonzalez Hontoria’s Park is linked to the Cattle Fair or Market.
![[Translate to Español:] Plaza Arenal](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/7/b/csm_Plaza_Arenal_0b1577cd84.jpg)
Plaza del Arenal
During the Muslim domination, this space - located outside one of the main gates of the walled enclosure- housed a cemetery and a small suburb.
![[Translate to Español:] Parque El Retiro](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/9/3/csm_elretiro_3973f4cb17.jpg)
Retiro Park
El Retiro was already in 1850 a recreation property with orchards, fruit-trees and ornamental species owned by Mr. Luis de Ysasi Lacoste.
![[Translate to Español:] Jardines del Tempul](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/e/1/csm_Jardines_Tempul_ca4577f9d0.jpg)
The Zoobotanic –Tempul Gardens
Its origin is closely related to the engineering that allowed the wáter brought into the city from the spring of Tempul in 1869.
![[Translate to Español:] Plaza del Mamelón](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/3/5/csm_mamelon_70b6fe49cb.jpg)
Mamelon Square
Mamelon Square, with an extent of 6,800 m2, was built in the early nineteenth century and landscaped in the early twentieth.
![[Translate to Español:] Plaza Banco](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/a/b/csm_plaza_del_banco_96319732e6.jpg)
Bank Square
The effect of the confiscation or expropriation of church property was a widespread phenomenon in the Spanish cities during the nineteenth century and had a huge influence on the conversion of the historic center of Jerez during this period.
![[Translate to Español:] Plaza Aladro](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/a/4/csm_plazaaladro_c91accc426.jpg)
Aladro Square
The old Llanos de San Sebastian and Santo Domingo (space currently occupied by Aladro Square and Alameda Cristina), had an enormous building activity during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
![[Translate to Español:] Jardines Atalaya](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/7/3/csm_Jardines_Atalaya_87b8ea565b.jpg)
Atalaya Gardens
The Atalaya gardens contain a variety of tree and bushes specimens of particular interest.
![[Translate to Español:] Parque La Plata](/fileadmin/Documentos/Turismo/_processed_/3/8/csm_ParqueLaPlata_f3a819c49c.jpg)
La Plata Park
La Plata Park was opened in 1995 and has become a very beautiful green area.