The Park of The Caprice is a park area located in Alameda de Osuna, northeast of the city of Madrid, (Spain). It was built by the Duchess of Osuna between 1787 and 1839. It has an area of 14 hectares.

He is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the city. Of its corners stand the plaza of El Capricho, the palace pond, the square of the Emperors, or the source of the Dolphins and the Frogs.

References attributed to him English, French, and Italian, from the time it was built, which reflect the artistic influences of the designers of the park. It is the only existing garden of Romanticism in Madrid. Samples of this are the maze of bushes, buildings, and the palace, the little chapel, or the beautiful ballroom, in addition to the streams that run through it and ponds, where you can find swans and ducks.

History

Maria Josefa Pimentel, Duchess of Osuna (1752-1834), who married the ninth Duke of Osuna, Pedro Téllez-Girón, was one of the leading ladies of the nobility of the time, and patron of artists.

In 1783 bought land on the outskirts of Madrid to build a recreational farm. A year later, the court architect, Paul Boutelou, presented an initial draft for the garden. Construction began in 1787, finally ending 52 years later, in 1839. The Duchess died without seeing the site fully completed in 1834.

Commissioned landscaping architect Jean-Baptiste Mulot, from the French court.

The Duchess ordered to construct ponds, connecting the main channel that runs through the park with the ballroom, which is where the festivities took place he took. This building stands on a small stream (where you can see the figure of a boar that remains under an arch facing the creek), which was supplied with water the rest of the park.

In addition, he planted thousands of copies all over the place of her favorite flower, the lilac.

In the French invasion of 1808, the site becomes the property of the French general Augustine Belliard, who seems to be that used the facilities for their troops. Later, after the withdrawal of the French army, the site reverted to the Duchessa, who carried out a reform of it. Were stocked shrubs, and built the palace casino ballroom or above (1815), the work of Martin Lopez Aguado. Also rose columns and reliefs that are considered to represent the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter.

In 1834, after the death of the Duchess of Osuna, ownership of the site came to his grandson, Pedro Alcantara, who also handles new construction López Aguado, as an area of exedras in the Plaza of the Emperors, dedicated to his grandmother, that like the rest, are surrounded by lush vegetation. After the death of Pedro de Alcantara in 1844, is ceded to his brother, who greatly neglected, ending 38 years later auctioned.

During the Republic was declared a Historic Garden, but not many consequences. During the Civil War, were built in the garden several underground bunkers, in which he was the General Staff of the Central Army, commanded by General Miaja, Jaca position. Around the palace remains vents emerging from shelters.

In 1943 he was declared Artistic Garden.

After decades of relative neglect in 1974 was bought by the city of Madrid, and in 1985 was declared of Cultural Interest. A year later began a reform that, to some extent, continues today. The compound is being studied to undertake reforms and recovery enabling more areas to visit and see this beautiful and interesting place.