Despite its bustling urban core, the Community of Madrid is highly committed to green spaces and environmental preservation.
**Urban Parks:** - **El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro):** A UNESCO World Heritage site, this beloved 125-hectare park features a boating lake, the glass-and-metal Palacio de Cristal, and beautifully manicured gardens. - **Casa de Campo:** A massive former royal hunting estate that is now Madrid's largest public park, featuring a zoo, an amusement park, and miles of trails. - **Madrid Río:** A spectacular urban park created by burying the M-30 highway along the Manzanares River, providing a long, linear park for walking, skating, and community events.
**Nature Reserves:** - **Sierra de Guadarrama National Park:** Protecting the rich biodiversity of the mountain range dividing the two Castilian plateaus, home to the Iberian ibex, roe deer, and the Spanish imperial eagle. - **Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park:** The oldest protected natural space in the region, recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.