5 parks to go on a picnic in Madrid, in addition to the Retiro
In the absence of a beach, welcome are the parks. This is the case of Madrid, which, although we cannot walk along the seashore, has several green areas full of corners in which to get lost.. In addition to the famous Retiro, well known by tourists and locals, Madrid hosts other extensive spaces for an afternoon picnic, sunbathing, a walk with the dogs or simply to spend some time among nature and disconnect from the noise and chaos of the city.
For this reason, we have made a selection of 5 of these places that you have to put on your list and you cannot miss. It is worth dedicating some of your time to them, whether you plan to visit the city or its surroundings, or if you are from the capital and are looking for an idyllic place to spend a day outdoors with your loved ones..
Watercress Fountain Park
After having several owners and reforms of all kinds, including being an amusement park in 1900, the current park occupies an area of more than 13 hectares.. It offers a landscaped garden with various slopes and formed by meadows crossed by winding walks and rustic stone stairs.
It also has a rich variety of trees.. Among the elements that we can find are the monument to Bécquer, the statue dedicated to the poet Pushkin, fountains, waterfalls and a couple of small ponds, as well as a small palace that is what remains of its palatial past.. It is located on the street of Enrique D'almonte. Admission is free and the spring and summer hours (from April to September) are from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.. In autumn and winter it runs from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m..
Manzanares Linear Park
The recovery of the natural context and the traditional spaces of the Mediterranean garden make this park, located in the vicinity of Doce de Octubre (Usera), one of the most interesting architectural proposals of the late nineties, carried out by the architecture workshop of Ricardo Bofill. The orchards, olive groves and the natural course of the river are the framework that surrounds the Caja Mágica, the High Performance Tennis Center, designed by Dominique Perrault.
This park is perfect for getting lost in its Green Square, the Paseo de los Sentidos, lined with large trees with a large pedestrian walkway, or the Belvedere Park, with children's games and petanque. The highest point is crowned by La Dama del Manzanares, a sculpture made in bronze and steel in 2003, based on a design by the Valencian artist Manolo Valdés, dedicated to the river that crosses the city.. It is 13 meters high and is located on top of the artificial hill of La Atalaya.
Tío Pío Hill Park
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Perhaps there will be those who know it as 'The Park of the Seven Tits' and it is because this is the nickname given to these small hills that have become one of the most impressive viewpoints in Madrid. From the top of the hills you can see the entire capital and many of the monuments of the Downtown Zone are recognized. Located in the Numancia neighborhood, in the Puente de Vallecas district. It is located between the Colonia de Fontarrón, the Colonia de Santa Ana and the Colonia de los taxi drivers.
Juan Carlos I Park
Located in the area of the Madrid Fair, the Juan Carlos I is an immense park with an area of 160 hectares that houses, among other things, an olive grove with more than 2,000 specimens of the old Hinojosa olive grove, a lake, an auditorium, an outdoor sculpture collection and activity center. It was opened to the public in 1992 on the occasion of the celebration of 'Madrid, European Capital of Culture'.
The park is an ideal space for doing different sports. It has a large skating rink, a lake and an estuary (where you can practice water sports), a bike path and a free bicycle rental service.. In addition, every half hour, a little train runs through the park for free. On weekends, a multitude of workshops are organized for the little ones.
Enrique Tierno Galvan Park
Located in the Legazpi neighborhood, close to the Méndez Álvaro bus, metro and commuter stations, is this large park that has a wide variety of tree species, flora and fauna. In it you can enjoy two children's areas, sports facilities, a bio-healthy circuit, bike circuits and several viewpoints. The park also has three ponds with their respective walkways. Inside are the Madrid Planetarium, an open-air auditorium, the former IMAX cinema, closed since September 2014, and a statue in honor of its creator, Mayor Enrique Tierno Galván.