El Campo del Moro
Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto s/n
It is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the city, not only for its impressive views of the Royal Palace but also for its strange varieties of plants and trees as well as the numerous constructions built for the kings.
The El Campo de Moro was selected by Aben-Jucef to camp with his army before attacking the Old Fortress ( El Viejo alcazar) in the 12th century. The garden is designed in the English – romantic style and it has a surface area of 20 hectares.
This Italian architect Sabatini created the gardens where the old palace stables originally were located, in front of the north façade of the Royal Palace.
El Monte del Pardo
It is one of the few ecosystems of the Mediterranean forest that are preserved on the Iberian Peninsula. This natural park extends along 20.000hectares with junipers, ash-trees and rosemary. In terms of fauna, the boar and the buck are the most emblematic species of the Monte del Pardo. It also has rapacious birds like the imperial eagle.
Botanic Gardens of Madrid
In front of the Prado Museum. Plaza Murillo 2
Tel.: 91-420-30-17
Fax: 914-200-157
Visiting hours: November to February, from 10 to 18 hours; March and October from 10 to 19 hours, April and September from 10 to 20 hours; May to August from 10 to 21 h.
It was declared the Artistic Garden, and dates back to 1774. It was designed in the neoclassic style, by the architects Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva during the reign of Carlos the 3rd, who wanted to create a space in order to classify the important botanical collections of that time. The enclosure is divided in three areas. The Science Terrace, where flowers and medicinal plants can be contemplated, the School Terrace where plants and trees are divided by families and the Flat Flower Terrace which includes a collection of bushes.
Among all the centennial trees it has the elm tree known as the Grandfather and the roses of Abderramán III stand out.
La Casa de Campo
It is the biggest green space open to the public of the city. It extension of 1.800 hectares of forest, with pine groves and oaks is an ecological reservation. From the beginning it has always been an important recreational area.
In this park you can find the Zoo, the amusement park and a man-made lake. It also has picnic areas, sport infrastructures and a musical auditorium.
Felipe the 2nd had it built as a Royal game preserve but it was declared Patrimony of Madrid during Second Republic.
Besides these places. Madrid preserves other natural spaces which fill the capital with fresh air: the Retiro park, which is like a true botanical garden, the Dehesa de la Villa and el Parque del Oeste.
Park of the Dehesa de la Villa
It is located next to the University Area. It is made up of an extensive pine forest with numerous picnic areas and sport facilities.
Parque del oeste
Delimited by the Paseo del Pintor Rosales this park is a great green area that is perfecting for taking a stroll. There is an interesting Rose Garden the Rosaleda where annual competitions take place. The park was designed by the architect Cecilio Rodriguez in the English style. In the high part of the park you can contemplate the Temple of Debot, a gift from the Egyptian authorities in gratitude for the Spanish collaboration in the Campaing of Nubia, when archaeological remains, which were buried under the Nile due to the construction of the dam of Aswan, were rescued. From this park the cable car travels to the Casa de Campo.
Park of Enrique Tierno Galván
Next to the M 30
The Planetarium of Madrid is located in this 54-hectare park. The park is next to the old train station of Las Delicias.
Park of Juan Carlos I
This park is next to the Trade Fair Grounds of the Campo de las naciones close to the Madrid Barajas Airport. It has big buildings for exhibitions, auditoriums, deluxe hotels, conference halls, a conference center and a man – made lake. The park has four paths dedicated to the seasons of the year. Also it has an area known as the Gardens of the three cultures dedicated to the three cultures that cohabited Spain Throughout the centuries (Arabs, Christian and Jews).
Manzanares River
It is really a stream that begins in the mountains of Navacerrada and ends in the Jarama River. The river runs through the city and is the habitat of different species of ducks which are protected and cared for by the City Council. Furthermore, because of its ecosystem it has been declared a natural Park.
