What are the best parks in Madrid

The fact of being the capital of Spain and a cosmopolitan city does not mean that Madrid does not have many parks, where you can walk, rest, run ... among greenery and tranquility. The truth is that there are many gardens and parks that we can visit, whether we are traveling in Madrid or living there. In this article we explain in more detail what are the best parks in Madrid.

The Good Retreat Park

The best-known park in Madrid is, without doubt, the Buen Retiro or El Retiro park, as it is usually known. Its origin dates back to the time of the Catholic Monarchs and it is during the reign of Felipe II when the use of this area is specified as a place of religious retreat and withdrawal, hence its name.

Currently, the El Retiro park is presided by the monument to Alfonso XII, along with the pond with its rowing boats . Likewise, we can also highlight the Crystal Palace that was built in 1887 on the occasion of the Exposition of the Philippine Islands. In addition to the numerous sculptural and architectural works, in this park you can enjoy its vegetation, fountains and other places full of peace and tranquility. To access this park, we recommend metro stops: Retiro (L2), Príncipe de Vergara (L2, L9), Ibiza (L9), Atocha (L1).

The Capricho of the Alameda de Osuna

El Capricho Park is located in the district of Barajas and is one of the green spaces that form the artistic-natural heritage of Madrid. It can be considered one of the most beautiful in the Spanish capital and, even so, many of the people of Madrid do not even know it. The origins of this park in Madrid date back to 1784, when the Dukes of Osuna acquired this estate; After going through many hands and suffering the consequences of the Civil War, in 1999 it was when the City Council restored its splendor.

This park has a large monumental complex, as well as several unique buildings such as La Casa de la Vieja or the Casino de Baile. Also, it should be noted that you can enjoy a theatrical tour that will make you still enjoy more of this beautiful natural corner. To access El Capricho, you can do so through the Canillejas and El Capricho stops on the L5.

Quinta de la Fuente del Berro Park

The current Quinta de la Fuente del Berro Park is located in the grounds of what was originally Quinta de Miraflores, commissioned by Felipe IV as a new Royal Site. Later, with the change of owners, it became an amusement park and has now become a municipal park with an area of ​​more than 13 hectares.

Among its most outstanding elements, we can mention the monument to Gustavo-Adolfo Bécquer, the statue dedicated to the poet Pushkin, as well as various fountains, waterfalls and even a couple of small ponds; In addition to a palace that is what remains of its palatial past. To get there, you can choose different metro stations: O'Donnell (L6), Manuel Becerra (L2, L6), Valdeacederas (L1).

Royal Botanical Garden

At the time of knowing the best parks in Madrid, we can not forget the Botanical Garden, designed more than 250 years ago and declared Artistic Garden in 1942. Throughout its history, the Botanical Garden has undergone numerous modifications and is currently already a referring to the study of native flora . It has 8 hectares and more than 5000 plant species, so you will not finish them in a day.

It is located in the Plaza de Murillo, and can be easily accessed from the Atocha station, either by metro or train. Note that the entrance to the Botanical Garden has a cost of € 3, although you can take some discounts and even it is free for some groups. Check it on your web page.

Cottage

The largest public park in Madrid is the Casa de Campo, since it has more than 1700 hectares, the authentic lung of Madrid. This green zone goes back to the reign of Felipe II, who decided to move the Court to Madrid and reside in it, joining the Palace with the hunting ground of El Pardo. It was not until the Second Republic (1931) when this space was ceded to the people of Madrid and opened to the public.

Today, the Casa de Campo houses various facilities such as the Amusement Park, the Zoo, the Cable Car, fairgrounds, the Madrid Arena multipurpose pavilion, the Venta del Batán where bullfights are held and different popular sports facilities. To get there, you can do it with public transport, through the Lago (L10) and Casa de Campo (L5 and L10) metro stations.