Parque de El Capricho is one of Madrid's most graceful historic gardens, laid out between 1797 and 1839 with a strong Romantic taste for lakes, pavilions, winding paths, and carefully staged views.
It is quieter than Retiro and more deliberately composed than a neighbourhood park. The garden is especially good for a slow weekend walk, when its follies, old trees, and formal details can be taken in without rushing.