The most beautiful parks and gardens Spain

Parallel to the shoreline, the rocky promontory of the Montgó rises between the communes of Dénia and Xavia to culminate at 753 metres. If at first, its silhouette appears abrupt and dry, it contains a great diversity in terms of its topography, its landscape and also its plant and animal species. It has been declared Natural Park in 1987 as it has more than 600 species, some of which are endemic and remarkable, such as kermès oak, hybrid, ciste varieties, sea fennel, Valence of Valencia (iron-à-horseback), some scabieuses, juniper De and dwarf palms. Consistent with the landscape, the fauna met will be different: gulls and peregrine falcons in cliffs and foxes, wild boar and some genettes in the inner rocky zones. Towards Dénia, this rock mass binds to the sea by cliffs and calas (small crypts). A variety of hiking trails will allow you to travel through the park, with a low level of difficulty. For example, the less sporty can spend two hours in the walking circuit leading to the Cova of the Aigua, the Water Cave, or an hour by bike. When the most trained can reach the Creueta (peak of the massif at 753 meters), after 12 hours go and return from a rather difficult circuit. However, you can always contemplate the whole coast, from Cullera to the Penon d'Ifach and if you are lucky and time is clear, you can guess the profile of Ibiza.

Its Dragonera and the two smaller islands, Mediana Island and Es Pantaleu, were declared a natural park in 1995. This 25 ha park is ideal for nature observation: seabirds, endemic crustaceans, sea vultures, more than 200 plant species.

In the heart of the Parque del Oeste, a stone's throw from the cable car, there is a magnificent rose garden not to be missed since its creation in 1955. Every year, in May, the Rosaleda Garden opens its doors to discover more than 500 different varieties of roses. Unique! A competition also allows visitors to choose their favourite rose. An oasis of freshness and tranquility of 32,000 m² in the heart of Madrid. Essential during the hot summer months or for a short moment of calm between two visits.

According to the precepts of The Illustration recommended by Carlos III, in 1781 the Royal Botanical Garden was inaugurated opposite the Botanical Museum (now the Prado Museum) and near the astronomical observatory (in the Retiro Park). It is one of the most important in Europe and depends on the High Council for Scientific Investigation. Spanish and foreign plants are studied and classified. We organize exhibitions, meetings. Greenhouses also have plant species from other climates (desert, tropical).

With a number of palm trees estimated between 200,000 and 300,000, it is the largest palm plantation of all Europe, which was worth to him to be classified with the heritage of UNESCO in 2000, as a testimony of the cultural transmission of the East to the Occident and remains of an exceptional system of irrigation, inherited the culture of Al-Andalus. It understands more than 2,800 species of date palms, whose life oscillates between 200 and 300 years, some reaching 30 meters in height. Although its original goes back to prehistory since the Phoenician ones would have introduced the date palms like way of subsistence during their maritime crossings, its expansion occurred following the foundation by the Arabs of the new town of Elche, on its current campsite, of XVIII^e in IX^e centuries, establishment which was accompanied by a vast network of irrigation which persists still at the present time. Remote view, the Palm plantation can resemble a forest but it acts by way of an agrarian plantation whose plots and its regroupings are called vergers. Each plot is flanked by alignments of palm trees, which seen sky, resemble squarings. The steps created inside were traditionally devoted to the agricultural cultures. Survival during centuries of this system of agriculture of oasis was also one of the aspects evaluated by UNESCO. Today, its function is more landscaped and cultural that agricultural. But it always produces blank sheets of palm trees, for Palm Sunday in Spain, and its date harvests continue to supply the local market. Various roads are proposed to you to traverse it of which the road of the Palm plantation traversing of the gardens of traditional palm trees and le Park of palmeres de Fillet of Fora.

The Villages de Ifach is a huge mass of limestone stone 332 meters high in the sea and is connected to the mainland only by a narrow sandy isthmus, two beaches, the Playa de la Fossa and that of Maurí. This Villages belonged to the municipality of Calpe until 1862, when it became a private property, passing into the hands of several owners. Before being bought by the government of the Valencian community, then classified as a natural park in 1987. Its characteristics, the nature of its basic soils, its situation and its orientation have given a great uniqueness to its fauna and flora. Its rupicole vegetation, specific to the rocky walls, includes interesting endemic species such as a maquis of small palms and juniper but also the'of Ifach, a species of almost extinct thyme, the rock scabieuse or the violet of the rocks. On the bottom of the northern slope there are other arbusives species such as poeny, juniper or mountain jasmine, the tout of pine trees in Aleppo. On the wildlife side, there are more than 80 nidificateurs, migratory or errants bird species, such as the Eleonore Falcon or the posh cormorant. Raptors and many gulls make their nests in the hollow of the southern facade, sunny, while gulls and cormorants reside at the foot of the rock. It should be noted that cats have also invested the place, on the trace of the food carried by hikers. You can access its summit by climbing a trail. With superb views over Calpe and its coastline. It is also the paradise of climbers that will find many climbing routes. If your access is free, it is advisable to have good shoes and to advance by the information centre. Before or after, you can also browse the ecological walkway of Asturias, whose route follows the base of Villages d'Ifach and where alternate areas of gardens and watchtowers allow to see Le and the sea from other angles. Near the rock, there is another interesting natural site, salt marshes in Calpe.

On the other side of the river, it is a large park with fountains, well-maintained aisles and several terraces. Ideal for a picnic. Valencia Zoo is located there.

The Umbracle is a 320 m long walk which acts as a watchtower. Located at the entrance of the City, it allows to contemplate the neighboring buildings that are reflected in the 13,500 m ² of side basins. Designed by Calatrava, the Umbracle consists of 55 fixed arches and 54 floating arches, 18 meters high. The Umbracle houses hundreds of palm trees, bougainvilleas, climbing plants and several contemporary art sculptures. It regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.

Small path indicated in the middle of a majorquine vegetation. A fast and fun ride if you try to find the frog that coasse!

By turning on the left and in a little amount, we come to this garden, which was once a amusement park. This is the latest date on the hill and is a work by Patrizia Falcone. Specially dedicated to children with all kinds of games, it nevertheless kept much of the original vegetation, especially a beautiful pine massif. The sculptures in the amusement park were also preserved, they are dedicated to the dancer Carmen Amaya, the gymnast Joaquim Blume, but also to Charlot and clown Charlie Rivel.

In addition to Miramar Road, this garden was inaugurated on July 20, 1970 by the dictator Francisco Franco, along with two other gardens on the hill, also dedicated to two poets, Joan Maragall and Mòssen Cinto Verdaguer. The one dedicated to Miquel Costa i Llobera specialises in the cacti and is one of the largest gardens, in this area, Europe. The asientos of suegra (mother-in-law seats), in the shape of géantes giant sponges, come from Mexico, the notable cactus tunnel, formed from cacti originating in Africa and the oldest cactus that is more than two centuries old. A little phantasmagorical with the port in the background. By continuing the path, we arrive at Dante's Plaza, where since 1920, 600 th anniversary of the death of the famous poet Dante Alighieri (the Divine Comedy) is a monument to his memory. But the monument that attracts the most attention in this place is a beautiful female nude in the middle of a fountain, the Belleza (1925), work by Josep Llimona.

The current botanical garden in the city was opened in 1999. It is located behind the Olympic Stadium, on a plot of 14 hectares. There is a didactic route that has been identified by signs that allow us to observe the vegetation of the different Mediterranean climate areas of the world, Australia, Chile, California, South Africa and of course the Mediterranean coast. It is, of course, a large project that needs time to grow, so it will have to come back in a few years'time so that some plants have reached their maximum size. It's already a marvel. The world's greatest architects, passing through Barcelona, always visit him. The author, Carlos Ferrater, organized the ground into triangular platforms that saved the slopes of the hill and create small micro-climates suitable for plants.

From a higher place, close to the Miró Foundation, to the surroundings of the Greek Teatre, following the curve of the Paseo de Santa Madrona, this large garden has been created by Jean-Claude-Nicolas Forest for the 1929 Exhibition. Originally, it was a large property owned by the lawyer and journalist, Josep Laribal, director of the newspaper El Diluvio. In 1908, it was purchased by the Ayuntamiento, which entrusted it to the French gardener. It made it a Spanish-Arabic garden that benefits from the slopes of the old quarries that were there and the existing vegetation. There was a set of waterfalls flowing into waterfalls, paths with pleasant curves, where you can admire the city. In the lower part is the historic font Font del Gat, a chat fountain, memories of the fountains that were at other times popular places of rest by the hikers fleeing the city.

Just opposite the previous one is the park, to visit absolutely if you are there in March, April, May because it is the moment when the bulbous plants that characterize the place (begonias, chauderon, captures and other tulips) bloom. In June and July, the aquatic plants are honoured. A range of terraces and water plans allow you to admire lotus flowers, water lilies, hyacinth, etc. Do not surprise you if you see a first recipient or groom for a photographic report of "their" day, it is a very romantic and very popular place for this kind of typical Spanish pleasure.

You enter by an old wooden door: a path leads you to the oldest gardens in the city planted with orange trees, jasmine, olive trees, acanthuses and oleanders. In the middle of the tower (torre) is Don Fadrique. The space is quite limited, but the place is charming, strolling or read in the shade on a bench. These gardens, unknown to the general public, are the only relic of the buildings, grounds and gardens of Palacio del Infante Don Fadrique, given by Sancho IV to the foundation of the convent of Clarisses (Convento Santa Clara). In 1920, the city council decided to dig until the base of the tour: hence this space below surrounded by myrtles where shows are often organised.

The Murillo Gardens are located between the Alcázar Wall and the Alfaro and Refinadores squares. They can be reached via Avenida Menéndez Pelayo or Calle San Fernando. Created at the beginning of the 20th century, in a style similar to that of the Maria Luisa Park, typical of the Sevillian garden, they have three main avenues criss-crossed by small paths, all lined with palm trees, impressive and fragrant oleander bushes and ficus trees. You can rest on the benches decorated with azulejos to admire the monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus.

This park was opened in 1973, when the fair abril was transferred from the prado de San Sebastián to the current location, to the avenida de Ramón de Carranza (Los Remedios), south of Triana. This park has an area for children, given by the Danish delegation from the Exhibition of 1992. The vegetation is varied: bougainvillea, bergamots, kumquats, orange, poplars, pines, oleanders, jasmine, plum trees, bamboos, flaxes of New Zealand... Perfect to put yourself at the green! There is also a water point with ducks; think of bread. You will notice the fountains, including a very pretty in colourful mosaics.

A small playful tour, in agreement with the environment (the boat uses only solar energy), thanks to which you can enjoy the Retiro Park from another point of view.