The 120-hectare Parque del Retiro has 14 gates, over 40 statues, trees of all types and dozens of magical spots, drawing in both Madrid residents and tourists alike (see page 216).

The Casa de Campo is the capital’s biggest breathing space, with a total area of over 1700 hectares. It is a favourite haunt of Madrid people, especially on bank holidays. Criss-crossed by a mesh of small streams, it is also home to 35 tree species – mainly Pines, Poplars and Holm Oaks – and thirty species of birds and several mammals. In time it has become a vast leisure centre, serving as venue for, among other facilities, the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid (a multi-sports centre), the Venta del Batán (bullfighting school and complex), the Cable Railway, the Zoo Aquarium, the Funfair and the Tradefair Site of the Casa de Campo.

The greenhouse of Atocha Train Station, with its tropical species and microclimate, represents a true oasis of peace and quiet amidst the hustle and bustle.

Huddling behind the western façade of the Palacio Real and Catedral de la Almudena, the  Campo del Moro is a fine example of a nineteenth-century garden; it was opened to the public in 1978 at the express desire of King Juan Carlos I. Two fountains are musts here: the Fuente de los Tritones and the Fuente de las Conchas.

The gardens of Sabatini-Plaza de Oriente occupy a space originally taken up by the old palace stables.

Its distance from the centre has not prevented the Quinta y parque de Fuente del Berro from becoming one of the city’s most popular and visited parks. It has an interesting botanical trail, singular trees and a cultural centre.