It’s time to tell you again my other love, Madrid. Let’s take you on a brief tour of the other parks of Madrid in my black and white series ,no pictures. Madrid is invigorating to the soul, active, modern, no taboos, free, open, lively, enthusiastic , and welcoming, its Madrid , all worth it a million times. I will show you here a bit on the other parks of Madrid !!! Hope you enjoy them as I.
The park closest to my old home in Madrid was the Parque El Calero, on Metro Line 5 Quintana or Carmen, it has nice promenade and an open air auditorium for concerts and cultural events. Also a petanque field and bike paths. You can easily go from the metro Quintana in Calle de Alcalà (where I lived) up avenida del Sagrado Corazon to it. My last trip the area has change ,but still a good walk into the real Madrid at day time….And yikes, no pictures , no web, but always remembered.
Another mythical park of Madrid for me is the Parque de la Quinta de los Molinos located in the neighborhood of Salvador, district of San Blas-Canillejas . It is considered a historic park located in between my Calle de Alcalà , Calle Miami, Calle de Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena ,and the Avenida del Veinticinco de Septiembre. It has 25 hectares and in the park includes great lawns and prairies of trees with lots of olives, pines eucaplyptus, and figs trees, even thus the start of the park of the almond trees that flowered every spring offering a wonderful spectacle. You can find here at the extreme north of the park a palace from early 20C , gardens and lawns, there is ,also a lake, windmill (why the name of the park) and a building known as the watch house or Casa del Reloj. The park has trails of dirt and pavement bordered by plantains trees from the main entrance in my Calle de Alcalà to the palace. During the summer, there are many activities here with concerts on the Summers of the city activity or Veranos de la Villa. Due to its location by Calle de Alcalà the access is easy from anywhere in the city; next to the main entrance there is the metro Suanzes, for line 5 (my line!) and also by Calle de Alcalà (my street !) you get the buses lines 77 and 104. By the Calle Juan Ignacio Luca de Tena you can catch buses lines 114 and 146, where there are two entries to the park. Other access to the park are at the Calle Miami on metro line 6 O’Donnell , and buses lines 2, 56, 69, 71, 143, 15, and 28.
The Madrid tourist office on the parque de la Quinta de los Molinos : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/quinta-molinos
This is a bit off the beaten path for most but it is Madrid at it local best. Come to the Parque del Cerro del Tío Pío in the neighborhood of Numancia, district of Puente de Vallecas, and extending over neighborhoods or colonies of residences Colonia de Fontarrón, Colonia de Santa Ana , and Colonia de los taxistas. It is locally known as the park of the seven tits or Parque de las Siete Tetas because of its peaks or hills. You come here to see the city sunset or sunrise and see most of the city. The park is bordered by the Calle Benjamín Palencia, Calle Camino de Valderribas, Calle Sierra de Cuerda Larga , and Calle Maruja García Romero. It is recommended for a panoramic view of the city from this park as well as the mountains outside of Madrid. The park has 3 entrances and on the highest there is a lookout , bar, and game zone for children as well as machines to do outdoors sport. There is ,also, a bike trail. On the lower part of the park you find sports complexes for indoor football/soccer, basketball, and ping pong. You reach here by metro light line 1 stations Portazgo and Buenos Aires as well as buses lines 54 , 141 , and 143 .
The Madrid tourist office on Parque del Cerro del Tio Pio : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/cerro-tio-pio-park
Another park ,known later in life is the Parque Quinta de Torre Arias located In the neighborhood of Salvador, district of San Blas-Canillejas; the old home of my maternal aunt !(which in those days we came by electric tramway!) It is located between the Calle de Alcalà, Calle Rodríguez Ayuso, Calle Eduardo Terán, Calle de Fernando Mijares , and Calle Marquesado de Sta. Marta. This was the old farm of Torre Arias with 17 hectares with very nice garden to find 51 species of trees some of more than 300 years old. It belongs to the nobility of Madrid from 1600 until our days today. The park is created after the passing of the last owner. In 1986, the owners signed an agreement to give it to the city as a donation that finally become owned in 2013 by the city of Madrid. You can reach here on metro line 5 Torre Arias, and buses lines 104, 77, 140, and 153.
The Madrid tourist office on the Parque Quinta de Torre Arias : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/quinta-torre-arias
The Madrid tourist office on the other parks of Madrid : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/explore-gardens-parks-and-former-country-estates
There you go folks, wonderful walks and rides into my Madrid parks/gardens. A great memory lane post, hope you enjoy this ride into the other parks of Madrid. Glorious awesome not enough words; my only regret not have taken more pictures; need to be back….Again, hope you enjoy the post as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 