[I originally posted this in July 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]
There is only one entrance to these extensive gardens, and there is an impressive view of the Royal Palace that visitors see when they come through the gates.
The area that the gardens stand on today was once space between the palace and the river, which was formerly a steep slope. It was partly levelled in the 1840s, although the construction took some decades to complete.
The fountain doesn’t currently have water in it, and it seems from reviews that it hasn’t for some time. The formal name of the fountain is Fuente de las Conchas (fountain of the shells) and it dates from the late eighteenth century, although it wasn’t moved to its current location until 1845.
The fountain from another angle.
There were some beautiful parts of the gardens, although I didn’t see any particularly impressive floral sections. The gardens were badly damaged during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s, but efforts were made to ensure that they were repaired.
This is an eighteenth century wagon which was used in the construction of the Royal Palace. It was part of the collection of the carriage museum, which is at the park, but which has been closed for some years.
There were long rows of trees, which provided the shade that I needed given the heat in Madrid.
One of the more formal parts of the gardens.
One of the wide avenues in the park.
There are a number of these Tyrolean style buildings located throughout the park, all dating from the late nineteenth century. They didn’t currently seem to be open or accessible to the public.
These gardens are extensive, although the entrance can be tricky for some people to find. They do seem to need more attention though, with the museum closed, the fountain having no water and the toilets needed a little attention. However, there is no entrance charge and it is a surprisingly peaceful location, with not that many visitors in the gardens during my visit.