One of San José’s nicest green spaces, this shady spot lures retirees to read newspapers and young couples to smooch coyly on concrete benches. At its center is the Monumento Nacional, a dramatic 1953 statue that depicts the Central American nations driving out North American filibuster William Walker. The park is dotted with myriad monuments devoted to Latin American historical figures, including Cuban poet, essayist and revolutionary José MartÃ, Mexican independence figure Miguel Hidalgo and 18th-century Venezuelan humanist Andrés Bello.
Across the street, to the south, stands the Asamblea Legislativa, which also bears an important statue: this one a depiction of Juan SantamarÃa – the young man who helped kick the pesky Walker out of Costa Rica – in full flame-throwing action.
A creative walker could easily connect Parque Francia, Parque Nacional, Parque Espana, and Parque Morazán, along Avenida 3, stopping at cafes and bookshops along the way.