Valencia Begins Work to Protect Its Famous Centenary Ficus in the Jardines de la Glorieta

In the centre of Valencia, work has begun to preserve the famous ficus, which is located in the Jardines de la Glorieta. It is one of the city's most recognisable trees. Thousands of tourists come to it every year to be photographed next to one of the largest and oldest trees in the Valencian Community.

The tree is suffering because of the limited space for the development of its root system — the garden's existing railing is restricting its growth. In addition, lamps directed straight at the crown are having a negative effect on the tree's condition.

The city authorities want to widen the railing to give the roots more space. The lighting is also planned to be replaced. At the same time, two new ramps for people with reduced mobility will appear. During the reconstruction, historic elements will be preserved — the metal railing, the upper stone part of the wall, and a fragment of the existing staircase.

The city councillor for parks and gardens, Mónica Gil, stressed that the aim of the works is to combine the protection of historical and natural heritage with an improvement of the space itself: "We are protecting one of Valencia's most unique trees and making the garden more accessible for all the city's residents."

The works will last around three months.

The Ficus Centenaris de la Glorieta was planted in 1852. According to legend, it appeared entirely by chance. The gardeners confused it with a magnolia and planted it together with more than 40 magnolias. The mistake was discovered only years later, when the tree had already firmly taken root in the garden.

Since then it has survived the reign of Isabella II, the First and Second Republics, Francoism, the arrival of democracy — and two catastrophic events: the Civil War and the famous flood of 1957, when the water rose almost to the very crown.