If you are planning to take a trip to the Madrid region of Spain you should really consider visiting the site known as the Cerro de los Ángeles while you’re there. The Cerro de los Ángeles, or in English, the Hill of Angels, is a renowned hill located in Getafe, Spain, a municipality situated roughly 6.2 miles (10 km) south of Madrid. In the following article we will profile this famous site, including some detailed information regarding its history and the various features that make it such a popular locale along the Spanish tour route.
The Cerro de los Ángeles
There are several reasons why the Cerro de los Ángeles is so loved throughout Spain, beginning with its geographic significance. According to scientists, the hill is the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula, on which the whole of Spain is located. It is also famed for the some of the features situated on top of the hill, including the Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas and the Monumento al Sagrado Corazón.
The Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Spanish for “Monastery of Our Lady of Angels,” and the Convento de las Carmelitas Descalzas, or “Convent of the Carmelites” are still in use today as a Catholic parish and convent. Tours of both complexes are available most days of the week, but only during times when services are not being performed. The monastery dates back to the 14th century, but because of damage it was rebuilt during the 17th century, when they also added the convent. Both display the Baroque style of the day, a very sparse exterior that was popular during this period, and inside the monastery are many interesting statues and paintings to explore, as well as some well-preserved pieces of period furniture.
The main draw of the Cerro de los Ángeles is the Monumento al Sagrado Corazón, or Monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This massive, white stone monument, standing some 30 feet (9 m) high at its apex, features a towering statue of Jesus. It was first constructed back in 1919 to dedicate the country and was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII. It was nearly destroyed, however, during the Spanish Civil War of the late 1930s, but following the war its remains were moved across the esplanade, and thanks in large part to public subscriptions, a bigger and better version of the monument was built, one that that now includes an underground church. In the monument resides the patron virgin of Getafe, and today tourists can still see some of the bullet marks dating back to the Civil War on both the monument and monastery.
Amid the pine trees and other natural flora are a number of pleasant amenities, including picnic areas, playgrounds for the kids and a small cafeteria up near the statue. Each year, a lively pilgrimage makes its way from Madrid to Getafe and the Cerro de los Ángeles to celebrate the local holiday in the beginning of May.
The peak of the Cerro de los Ángeles stands about 2200 feet (670 meters) above sea level, with a base of roughly 2000 feet (610 meters). The area that surrounds the hilltop is relatively flat in all directions, offering guests a panoramic view of both Getafe and Madrid.
