Parque Genovés

Park in Cádiz

Park Genoves Cadiz 3 — CC BY-SA 3.0 / Solundir

The Parque Genovés is a historic botanical garden located in Cádiz. The park has tree and plant specimens from all over the world including Maple trees, poplars, Indian laurels, Canarian pine and Cycads from southern India. There is also an ornamental lake stalked by sculptures of dinosaurs.

Its origin dates back to the 18 century when the first park, which was called Paseo del Perejil, was created on the land between the Camposanto, the La Bomba barracks and the sea wall. Unfortunately it was a poorly maintained and treeless park.

It was expanded from 1854, when a wide tree-lined promenade was create and its name changed to Paseo de las Delicias. Part of the reason it was expanded was to give employment to the sufferers of a cholera epidemic! Further expansion occurred in 1863 with the demolition of the Columella Barracks, and the planting on the site of repopulating the site with trees of different species, including the American cypress.

In 1892 the mayor commissioned more renovations which included the so-called “Army Forest”, with fountains, a lake with a waterfall, a concert hall, café, as well as a number of botanical species. The sculptural ensemble “Children under the umbrella” was installed, which is a fountain that was brought all the way from Paris. The metal structure of the theater was also the work of Gustave Eiffel – he also built the Eiffel Tower.

The Parque Genovés appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Cádiz!