Madrilenos know that their city has more open spaces than any other European capital and with large open parks and botanical gardens on offer it’s a perfect way to escape from the never-ending activity of the city.
The Retiro
As the name suggests, the 330 acre Parque el Retiro is an ideal spot to unwind. Situated just east of the Paseo del Arte between Calle Alfonso XII and Avenida Menedez y Pelayo, the beautifully designed gardens attract thousands of visitors looking for a spot to relax, or walk along the tree-lined avenues. If lounging around isn’t your thing there are several other sites and activities in the park to occupy and hour or two. There is a boating lake next to the Monumento a Alfonso XII, numerous cafes for a spot of people-watching, and several venues holding exhibitions and outdoor concerts during the summer. The Retiro is also famous for having the world’s only public statue to Satan; the Angel Caido in the south of the park.
The Retiro Metro stop is on the red line (#2).
The Botanical Gardens
Just across the street from the Retiro, and next door to the Prado Art Museum, are the Jardines Botanicos, a tranquil oasis in the heart of the Paseo del Arte. Opened in 1781 and fully restored in the 1980’s after years of neglect the gardens were replanted with original plans and are home to tens of thousands of varieties of plants from all over the world. Originally intended to serve the greater good of Madrid by King Carlos III, as a repository of medicinal and botanical knowledge, the gardens were to form a research centre aimed at filling Madrid’s hospitals with new cures and remedies. Now the garden offers welcome shade to anyone escaping the scorching Madrid sun.
The Park is open daily and right next to Atocha Metro station (Blue #1)
The Plaza de Espana
The area around the green core of Plaza de Espana isn’t much to write home about, built in a show of modernity by the dictator Franco in the 1950’s, but the park in the centre is an ideal spot to sit on a shady bench with the locals and watch visitors to the park come and go. The park is on most tourists’ to-do list because of the enormous monument to the writer Cervantes in the middle of the square, and the bronze statues of his most famous creations; Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
Plaza de Espana is on the Metro intersection of the Yellow line (#3) and the Purple (#10).
