In a special enclave of the Canary Islands, where the brilliance of the stars shines with unparalleled purity, the Badajoz ravine (Güímar) encloses the area, shielding it from faint light pollution, lies the Starlight Park Camino Barranco de Badajoz. This sanctuary is dedicated to preserving the darkness of the sky and protecting nature, making it the first and only star park in the Canary Islands. To add to its uniqueness, there are only a dozen more of its kind in the entire world.
Guardians of this space are the couple Sandra Ramírez Monzón and José María Ramos Ramos. They aim to safeguard the “heaven and earth” by advocating for such initiatives. While neither of them are professional astronomers, they have acquired knowledge through their studies and personal interests.
“It all began on a serene night in 2016 on my estate in Barranco de Badajoz. As I gazed at the sky, observing all the constellations in perfect silence, I experienced an epiphany. I felt a calling to preserve and protect this area,” Sandra explains. She is the founder of this centre and also has a passion for the arts. The beauty and tranquillity emanating from the starlit sky inspired Sandra to transform the location into a nature reserve, not only for the land but also for the sky.
Determined to turn their vision into reality, they reached out to the Starlight Foundation with the sole intention of conserving habitats like their own. They attended the inaugural Starlight Congress in Ávila. During the event, Sandra delivered a public talk about the project they had conceived and planned to implement on their estate: a starry park offering interactive activities focused on the celestial sky. She emphasised the significance of preserving and conserving nature in its entirety. This marked the beginning of a long journey.
“Following thorough studies, it was established that our park boasted a darkness akin to that of Teide, opening up a realm of possibilities to us as we could confidently claim to have a truly unique location in our hands,” José affirms. During the subsequent congress, the couple presented their ambition to create the first star park in the Canary Islands. Their endeavour came to fruition when the foundation bestowed upon them the Parque Estela distinction at FITUR.
Initiation
Sandra is a devotee of knowledge. Alongside her interest in Oriental culture, she holds a deep admiration for Alexandria, a city she deems one of the most significant cradles of knowledge. Inspired by historical figures like Ptolemy, they designed their park to emulate various historical spaces as a form of tribute.
For instance, they recreated the peripatos, a structure characteristic of ancient Greek schools consisting of a roof with a single wall surrounded by columns, providing a sanctuary for park visitors. They also crafted their own exedra, another allusion to ancient Greece, which is a semicircular area under the sky encircled by stones aligned with the cardinal directions, offering visitors a more welcoming and communal ambiance.
Recognition
“I recall urging my daughter to establish contact with NASA. Realising the value of our endeavour, I contemplated how we could collaborate with them,” she recounts. Thus, a pioneering agreement was formed for the educational and outreach activities in astronomy, making them the sole NASA educators in Spain.
Furthermore, Abo Loeb, Director of Astrophysics at Harvard, has been appointed as the first honorary member of the park. The astrophysicist displayed great enthusiasm for the proposal, leading to the decision to accord him this recognition.
Starlight Park offers an array of activities celebrating the connection between the heavens and culture. From exploring lunar craters and delving into space missions to enjoying operatic performances under the stars and witnessing the Perseid meteor shower, each experience is a journey through the cosmos.
One of the activities is poetry under the full moon, showcasing Arab artists who often remain unnoticed due to their gender. “We make use of the sky,” they both express with a smile.
“A Hidden Gem”
Amidst a debate surrounding the tourism model, initiatives like this propel a different type of business and leisure for visitors, fostering a form of tourism that prioritises quality over quantity. “Such initiatives attract a different kind of tourism, diverging from the typical sun and beach tourism, thereby generating increased revenue and promoting educational and cultural activities,” according to José.
Both individuals lament the lack of recognition or support the park has received at the political and administrative levels. “There were discussions, but ultimately no progress was made,” they clarify. José expresses his puzzlement at the reluctance of public institutions to provide subsidies or assistance for initiatives of this nature. “Often, when we interact with experts from the mainland, they exclaim: ‘You possess a hidden gem’,” he explains.
