From the self-designed subject "History and Heritage of Prado del Rey" in the 1st year of Bachillerato at IES Carlos III in Prado del Rey, Cádiz, students Laura Astete, Hugo Sidanni, and Macarena Villalba are participating in the “Young European Heritage Makers 2024” contest, and we would like to share what heritage means to us.

Heritage is a legacy, something that endures over the years, remains unchanging, and therefore recognizable by the entire community. Heritage should be something that represents us, identifies us, and even makes us unique. It connects us to a shared past that unites us in the present. It must be protected, valued, and promoted as a precious asset, so future generations can fully understand and enjoy it.

By analyzing our surroundings and our town, we have discovered that our most cherished and recognizable heritage is its urban planning. Prado del Rey was founded by Pablo de Olavide under the orders of King Charles III in 1768, during the Enlightenment, a movement that prioritized reason. For the urban planning of all the new towns founded in this 18th-century context, a grid plan with perpendicular and orderly streets was used.

The most representative element of Prado del Rey is located in the urban center: the church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, a clear example of Neoclassical style. It is the most recognizable building in our town, even though it has undergone changes and modifications throughout history. However, if there is one thing we consider the true heritage of our town, it is its urban planning—its straight streets that persist despite the uneven terrain and the prominent hills upon which the urban core of Prado del Rey is situated.

The orthogonal grid plan remains intact, making its perpendicular streets the true urban and cultural heritage of our town. However, during the developmental period of the 1960s and 1970s, many urban elements were removed. An exemplary case was the well known as “Antonino's Well,” located in the center of Moreno de Mora Street, which hindered vehicle traffic. This urban landmark was relocated to the side of the street in 2016 because the community believed that the disappearance of this small well represented the loss of part of the local heritage, and therefore it was recreated as it once was.

The orderly layout of straight streets, as we said, is a constant. Since 1968, it has been complemented by tree-lined streets, adding greenery to our town—another identifying feature that is deeply valued and respected, and one of which all the residents are proud.

Thanks to our main source of information, old photographs, we have been able to analyze images of our town's past and present. We can conclude, without a doubt, that what has remained distinctly clear over time, and what we understand as our most defining heritage, is its streets. The orthogonal layout of parallel and perpendicular streets was inspired by the rational spirit of the Enlightenment in the 18th century, which in turn drew from the urban planning of the Roman Empire, the first architect of the European spirit. Therefore, this distinctive urban layout is not only the heritage of Prado del Rey but also a true European heritage in which many can find a sense of identity—a heritage that unites the entire community, strengthening ties among the different nations that make up the European Union.

Alongside this tangible reality, the audiovisual piece concludes at the entrance to the town, where the presented urban layout ends. It is there, in 2021, thanks to contributions from all the residents, that a bold artwork by the artist José Hinojo was placed. Hinojo has lived and worked in the heart of Europe before returning to his hometown. We are confident that this work will become a new piece of heritage that we have all contributed to, a living and collective history of our town.