El Capricho Park

El Capricho is a park in Madrid. The word capricho is Spanish for "whim" or "caprice". It was created by María Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna (1752-1834) on her estate at Alameda de Osuna, which was then outside the city of Madrid. It is landscaped in eighteenth-century style with formal and naturalistic features. It is recognised as one of the most beautiful parks in the city.^[1]

El Capricho
The lake in the park
El Capricho Park Show map of Madrid El Capricho Park Show map of Spain
Location	Madrid
Coordinates	40.4561°N 3.5987°W / 40.4561; -3.5987
Area	14
Established	1787
Public transit access	El Capricho

The landscape design shows some English influence. Characteristically of continental gardens in the English style, there are a number of "eye-catchers" such as a hermit's house and a temple to Bacchus. Other features include a lake and a maze.^[2]

Structures

Palace of the Dukes of Osuna

There are various buildings from the time of the Duchess, the largest being the ducal palacio.

The Duchess continued to make improvements to the gardens until the end of her life, one of the last features being an iron bridge, which was constructed in 1830. This footbridge is claimed to be the first iron bridge in Spain.^[3]

There is a bunker from the Civil War period. It is known as posición Jaca.^[4]

Conservation

The park has been designated a jardín histórico.

Access

The park is within the Madrid suburbs and is accessible by bus and metro (line 5). The park is normally open to the public at weekends.^[5]

In 2016 it was proposed to open the palace as a museum.

See also

• Paintings for the alameda of the Dukes of Osuna

References

1. "El Capricho, eligido..." 20 minutos (in Spanish). 2008.
2. "5 maravillosos laberintos".
3. Serrano, Salvador (2010). "La arquitectura del hierro" (in Spanish).
4. "Jaca" (in Spanish). GEFREMA (Grupo de Estudios del Frente de Madrid). 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
5. "Patrimonio Verdo". www.madrid.es.

External links