Green parks in Madrid: nature inside the city
It might seem ironic, but we can escape from a city’s hustle and bustle in the same city. The thing is, Madrid is full of parks and gardens that bring us a sense of true nature, embracing us with the most pleasant shapes and colors. We don’t even have to go far away for that. The Retiro Park is probably the most famous example. We can walk there for hours, enjoying the view and the fresh air, forgetting all about the busy traffic and frenetic pace of the capital city. However, there are many other spots in Madrid that let us do so, and we’re going to present them to you in the following lines.
The statue of the Fallen Angel in the Retiro Park. | Shutterstock
Let’s start with the obvious choice: Retiro. It was founded in the mid-19th century, and it has been regarded since as an iconic site in Madrid. It encompasses approximately 310 acres and more than 15000 trees, among them the Ahuehuete, which is perhaps the oldest tree in Madrid —about 400 years old. The Retiro has plenty of interesting elements, including the Crystal Palace, the charming rose garden and the statue of the Fallen Angel. It makes sense that, in 2021, UNESCO declared this park —together with the Paseo del Prado— a World Heritage Site.
However, this isn’t even the largest park in Madrid. The first position is held by Casa de Campo, now connected to the urban park of Madrid Río, where wan can go for a lovely walk along the river Manzanares. Back to Casa de Campo, this great park extends for 3793 acres. It was designed during the reign of Philip II (1527-1598), who was tasked with the object of turning the city into the capital. In the 20th century, during the Second Spanish Republic, the State gave it to the people and it quickly became one of their favorite places to spend time in. This area is so large that it has inside one of Madrid’s amusement parks: Parque de Atracciones de Madrid.
The Temple of Debod. | Shutterstock
With a size of 247 acres, Parque del Oeste is another park worth mentioning in Madrid. Next to the college town, both university students and walkers pass through it every day. Its roots go back to the 19th century, and it has interesting spots like the Egyptian Temple of Debod, where we can admire the city’s most fantastic sunsets. There is also a cable car there, a lovely plan for kids and families.
In the last years, Cerro del Tío Pío has become one of those parks where many people go to enjoy a beautiful sunset, since the Cerro’s hills display a breathtaking panoramic view of Madrid. The park of Siete Tetas in Numancia, with its history and current atmosphere, is a delightful place to visit if looking for fresh air and green hills.
Quinta de los Molinos. | Shutterstock
The places listed above are the most popular ones, and they are key for getting to understand how Madrid interacts with nature. Nevertheless, Spain’s capital city hides little secrets for us to discover. That’s the case of Quinta de los Molinos, a park that blooms in spring with the vivid colors of its almond trees. It also has a remarkable historical value, considering that it used to be a recreational property were they performed agricultural activities, and this past can still be sensed in Quinta de los Molinos.
Another extremely beautiful place in Madrid is El Capricho Park. It was built between 1787 and 1839, and it holds precious pavilions, chapels, fountains, little squares and the palace of the Duchess of Osuna, the original owner. It also hides an impressive bunker dating back to the Spanish Civil War, with more than 21527 square feet and 50 feet under the ground. If we talk about history, it’s also very interesting to visit the park of Berlin in Chamartín, which holds three fragments of the actual Berlin Wall.
The gardens and lake of El Capricho Park. | Shutterstock
To end with, we’ll make two last suggestions. First, the park of Juan Carlos I, with 395 acres, which is the second largest park in Madrid, before the Retiro Park. Secondly, the gardens of Príncipe de Anglona, way smaller, only 8611 square feet wide. It’s located next to the square of La Paja, and it charms us with its simple beauty.
