Beyond the grand jardins, Paris is filled with smaller, tranquil pockets of green space - the squares. We explore these essential respite areas and the history hidden within them. From the sand of the Roman-era Arènes de Lutèce to the art and scandal tied to the Square Laurent Prache, which features a statue honoring poet Guillaume Apollinaire (who was arrested during the Mona Lisa theft investigation). We also visit Parc Monceau, an English-style garden built for a royal cousin and Parc Montsouris, a former quarry and necropolis that became one of the "lungs of air" for the city under Napoleon III.

Key Takeaways:

• Small Parks/Squares: Their function as tranquil oases and their prevalence in the outer arrondissements.

• Arènes de Lutèce: Discovering the Roman amphitheater and its connection to the sand in Square Capitan.

• Guillaume Apollinaire: The story of the poet, his Calligramme creation and his surprising connection to the Mona Lisa theft.

• Parc Monceau: The history of the rotunda (a former customs house for taxation) and the first ever silk parachute jump performed there.Parc Montsouris: A deep dive into its origins as a quarry and its creation by Adolphe Alphand, plus a mention of the ongoing saga of the Parc des Princes and PSG's potential moves

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