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El Capricho Park

El Capricho Park is a 14-hectare historic-artistic garden in the Alameda de Osuna neighbourhood, in the Barajas district. It was created in the late 18th century by María Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna, and is the only Romantic-era garden still existing in Madrid. The grounds blend English, French and Italian landscape styles, and include a palace (currently being restored to reopen as a museum), a laurel maze, a lake, a navigable inlet, the Temple of Bacchus, the Plaza de los Emperadores, the Fountain of the Dolphins, the bee house, the Casa de la Vieja, the Casa de Cañas, the hermitage, the small fort and an iron bridge considered the first of its kind in Spain. It also houses a Civil War bunker, the Posición Jaca, unique in Europe for its state of preservation. Admission is free, and it only opens on weekends and public holidays, with limited capacity. Free guided tours of the park and the bunker are offered through the Pasea Madrid and Hábitat Madrid programmes. In addition, during spring, summer and autumn the 'Tardes de Capricho' are held, with concerts, theatre and dance.

Things to do at El Capricho Park: 22 missions

• Visit Parque de El CaprichoVisit Parque de El Capricho in Madrid and see the place for yourself.
• Walk through the mazeStroll among the hedges of this garden maze.
• Discover the Hermitage at Parque de El CaprichoSee this small rectangular brick building with two columns on its façade.
• Discover the Jaca positionLearn about this bunker from the Spanish Civil War period.
• See El Abejero at Parque de El CaprichoAdmire the dome with a central rotunda, where the statue of Venus stands.
• Cross the iron bridgeThe iron bridge (1834–39) is the work of Martín López Aguado.
• Visit La Casa de la Vieja at Parque de El CaprichoSee this rustic stone building, built to recreate a peasant scene.
• Discover the Plaza de los EmperadoresThe Plaza de los Emperadores lies halfway between the entrance and the palace.
• See the octagonal fountainThe octagonal fountain, known as the "pearl necklace" for the way the water falls drop by drop, stands in a small square surrounded by flowerbeds and benches, just before reaching the Plaza de los Emperadores.
• See the monument to the 3rd Duke of OsunaThe monument to the 3rd Duke of Osuna (1838), also the work of M. López Aguado, stands on the central island of the lake.
• Explore El Fortín o Batería at Parque de El CaprichoLearn about this work attributed to Martín López Aguado, of uncertain date.
• See La Casa de Cañas at Parque de El CaprichoSee this small Chinoiserie-style building, clad in bamboo canes.
• See the Fountain of the DolphinsThe Fountain of the Dolphins, named for the four dolphins at its base, is one of the main fountains.
• Discover El Casino de Baile at Parque de El CaprichoLearn about this building, designed by Antonio López Aguado and later remodelled by his son Martín.
• See the lakeAdmire one of the park's expanses of water.
• Visit the hermit's house at Parque de El CaprichoSee this visual eye-catcher typical of continental English-style gardens.
• Explore the palace at Parque de El CaprichoExplore this building with an irregular square floor plan, four corner towers and three interior courtyards.
• See the Wheel of SaturnThe Wheel of Saturn is of unknown author and date, though it may be another commission by Pedro Alcántara, given the coat of arms on the base of the column.
• See the Temple of BacchusThe Temple of Bacchus (1786–88) is the work of José de la Ballina.
• Follow the Botanical TrailWalk this marked botanical trail, one of the park's facilities.
• Enjoy the temple to BacchusEnjoy the temple to Bacchus during your visit to Parque de El Capricho.
• Take the guided tours of Parque de El CaprichoTake part in a guided tour offered by the Hábitat Madrid programme.

Near El Capricho Park

Source: Fuentes verificadas