Prince of Anglona Gardens

This small, meticulously maintained green space was once a luxury enjoyed only by the powerful residents of the palace, and is now a jewel of Madrid open to everyone. Created around 1750, it is one of the few surviving 18th-century noble gardens. Its design, as we know it today, is the work of Javier de Winthuysen in 1920, a painter and designer of important gardens throughout Spain, such as those at La Moncloa in Madrid and the Palmeral of Elche. The last restoration was in 2002 and was carried out by landscape architect Lucía Serredi.

The garden takes its name from the adjacent palace. Although it was renovated in the early 20th century, it still retains the original structure that defines the entire space. It covers approximately 800 square meters and has a neoclassical layout, structured around a cruciform parterre defined by low boxwood hedges. The low, unpolished white marble fountain that once stood in the center has been moved and replaced with a taller one made of polished stone. There are several benches where you can sit and enjoy the tranquility of the place. The garden has retained its original layout and paving of the paths, made of brick laid on edge. Its most striking feature is its suspended structure, as it is built on an artificial embankment, bridging the difference in elevation between it and Calle de Segovia, which it borders. Despite its central location, it remains unknown to most, hidden behind high walls and situated in the lower part of Plaza de la Paja, opening up like a viewpoint onto Calle de Segovia. The palace adjacent to the garden is a typical noble residence that belonged to the heirs of Álvaro de Benavides. It was built in the 17th century with the characteristic sobriety of Castilian architecture. In the 17th century it was inhabited by illustrious courtiers such as the Prince of Anglona.