Retiro Park, Madrid
The Retiro Park, designed in the 1600s in a formal French style, was originally the royal park and gardens for King Felipe IV.
In 1632 the king's palace was built as a retreat for the Royal Family, the word Retiro means retreat and hence the name Retiro Park was adopted.
The park was opened to the public in 1868.
Unfortunately most of the original palace itself was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars; only two buildings remain from the original palace: the Museo del Ejército, the building which houses the Army Museum and the Casón del Buen Retiro, another museum housing many fine examples of 19th and 20th century Spanish artwork, survived and are still open for public viewing today.
Still the park is home to some beautiful buildings and monuments: one such building is the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), as its name suggests is made entirely from glass.
It was constructed in 1887 by Ricardo Velázuez Bosco to replicate the Crystal Palace in London.
It originally housed a collection of exotic plants and now houses many temporary exhibitions that are held in the city.
The Palacio de Velázquez is another pavilion-style building, designed in 1884 by the same architect.
The building was originally used as an exhibition space for the mining, ceramics and glass industry, and although it no longer houses this national exhibition, it too, is used as an exhibition hall for cultural events.
El Retiro is also home to the beautiful statue of the Angel Caido (the Fallen Angel), which is said to be the only monument in the world, actually dedicated to a fallen angel.
The central point of El Retiro Park is the great lake - the Estanque del Retiro.
Here visitors can go boating or simply sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the lake and the park's green environment.
There is a grandiose monument overlooking the lake; an equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII, erected in 1922 by his mother.
There are a number of bars and 'terrazas' (terraces) in El Retiro where you can sit outside and enjoy a café or beer.
You will often find street entertainers and buskers performing, which makes for an enjoyable break from strolling around the park.
El Retiro also plays host to a number of open-air concerts and film festivals and each year from the end of May to the beginning of June, the wonderful Feria del Libro (the Madrid Book Fair) takes place within the park.
To arrive at El Retiro Park, take the Metro to Retiro or Ibiza stations.
The park is open all year, but is best enjoyed in spring and autumn months.
In 1632 the king's palace was built as a retreat for the Royal Family, the word Retiro means retreat and hence the name Retiro Park was adopted.
The park was opened to the public in 1868.
Unfortunately most of the original palace itself was destroyed during the Napoleonic wars; only two buildings remain from the original palace: the Museo del Ejército, the building which houses the Army Museum and the Casón del Buen Retiro, another museum housing many fine examples of 19th and 20th century Spanish artwork, survived and are still open for public viewing today.
Still the park is home to some beautiful buildings and monuments: one such building is the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), as its name suggests is made entirely from glass.
It was constructed in 1887 by Ricardo Velázuez Bosco to replicate the Crystal Palace in London.
It originally housed a collection of exotic plants and now houses many temporary exhibitions that are held in the city.
The Palacio de Velázquez is another pavilion-style building, designed in 1884 by the same architect.
The building was originally used as an exhibition space for the mining, ceramics and glass industry, and although it no longer houses this national exhibition, it too, is used as an exhibition hall for cultural events.
El Retiro is also home to the beautiful statue of the Angel Caido (the Fallen Angel), which is said to be the only monument in the world, actually dedicated to a fallen angel.
The central point of El Retiro Park is the great lake - the Estanque del Retiro.
Here visitors can go boating or simply sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the lake and the park's green environment.
There is a grandiose monument overlooking the lake; an equestrian statue of King Alfonso XII, erected in 1922 by his mother.
There are a number of bars and 'terrazas' (terraces) in El Retiro where you can sit outside and enjoy a café or beer.
You will often find street entertainers and buskers performing, which makes for an enjoyable break from strolling around the park.
El Retiro also plays host to a number of open-air concerts and film festivals and each year from the end of May to the beginning of June, the wonderful Feria del Libro (the Madrid Book Fair) takes place within the park.
To arrive at El Retiro Park, take the Metro to Retiro or Ibiza stations.
The park is open all year, but is best enjoyed in spring and autumn months.
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