Public Space and Traditions

Royal Tracks, Spain

The first thing that defines public space is its legal condition: it belongs to everyone.

In Spanish cities, since 1273, many of those spaces have to allow that flocks of transhumant pasturage pass through them. All this traffic is organized in the so called "Royal Tracks" (Cañadas reales). The one that crosses Segovia has 500 km long and starts in León and ends in Extremadura, close to Portugal.

The use of public space for this purpose, as an exercise of old rights, is the only way we urbanites realize this traditional lifestyle still exists. How many of our own urban traditions depend on the existence of public space? Probably the majority.

Do not miss the video: the sheep at the centre are at a standstill while the outside ring turns around.