Casa de Campo is Madrid’s largest public park, a former royal hunting estate acquired by King Philip II in the 16th century and opened to the public in the 1930s.
Spanning more than 1,700 hectares west of the city center, the park is home to the Parque de Atracciones amusement park, Madrid Zoo Aquarium, a lake lined with cafés and bars, and miles of wooded trails for walking, running, and cycling. A cable car connects the park to Paseo del Pintor Rosales in an 11-minute ride with panoramic views over the city.
Traces of the Spanish Civil War, including surviving bunkers, are still visible in parts of the park, a reminder that Casa de Campo once sat on the front line during the siege of Madrid.