Retiro park in Madrid
One of my favorite places to relax and have a casual visit or respite from the business of Madrid, Retiro park is an oasis in the heart of the city. Originally part of the royal park to the Retiro palace, this is a now a public place of leisure and recreation for both locals and visitors to enjoy open spaces, enjoy sports and recreational activities and relax in a natural park and botanical garden in the middle of the urban city.
Retiro park comprises of over 125 hectares (300 acres of land) of land and over 15,000 trees in this vast natural park in the heart of the city. The park composes of many different parks, historic buildings and monuments, fountains and classic gardens of Andalusian influence and even the ahuehuete (Mexican cypress tree) which is the oldest tree in the park.
The park is a popular local and visitors park for respite and recreation, you can rent rowboats or kayaks/canoes to enjoy the pond. Head to the Crystal palace which holds temporary exhibits or even visit the rose garden with over 4000 roses in display in the summer season. The Teatro de Titeres has weekend puppet shows and you can enjoy the many fountains, walking gardens and other venues around this expansive park in Central Madrid.
A quick history on Retiro Park in Madrid
In the past Retiro Park was originally the royal garden of the Old Buen Retiro Palace which was built in the 17th century by the Royalty of Spain and a place for nature, rest and retreat from royal obligations. Housing many architectural wonders such as the Crystal Palace, the Valazquez Palace and the Pond, the gardens also house gorgeous sculptures, water fountains, statues and a monument that is dedicated to Alfonso XII, the statue of the Fallen Angel, the Galapagos fountain, the Puppet theatre, Forest Remembrance and many other important monuments and elements in the royal garden.
The old Buen Retiro palace
After suffering damages during the war of Independence, the palace had to be demolished due to major damages that were sustained. Parts of the gardens were intact and other parts were rebuilt which now comprises the park we know today. In 1868 the private garden was converted into a public park and in 2021, was dedicated as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
How can I get to Retiro Park?
You can get to Retiro park by metro station Del Retiro (line 2 red line) or you can easily walk from the Atocha train station or any of the neighborhoods in the area.
Entrance to the park is free along with using its restrooms and other facilities or free exhibits. For more information, visit the park’s page on the Madrid tourism website.
Hours
The park welcomes visitors from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. October to March and 6 a.m. to midnight, April to September.
Where is the entrance?
There are several entrances to the park, the most elaborate is at the royal gate of Felipe IV located on Alfonso XII Street fronting the old Buen Reitro house. You’ll enter one of the most beautiful parterre gardens done in French style.
What to see in Retiro Park?
If you are looking for some wonderful gardens, public art and sculpture and beautiful art filled temporary art exhibitions, you’ll love visiting Reitro Park in central Madrid.
Here are some of our favorite places to visit and hang out below:
The pond
The heart of Retiro park, the pond was built from 1634 to 1636 by architect Cristobal de Aguilera and was used for water shows, mock naval battle shows or pleasure boat rides for the kings and court. One of the oldest monuments in the park, the pond is now open to the public, renting rowing boats, hanging out at the many terraces around the pond or having some coffee and refreshments in the many cafes around the area. There’s also a solar boat that does laps around the pond and kayak/canoe rentals at the municipal sports center.
The Crystal Palace
One of the most romantic monuments around the park is the Crystal palace that was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde park and designed by architect, Ricardo Velazquez Bosco. This gigantic iron clad greenhouse housed tropical plants and is now used as contemporary art exhibits from the Reina Sofia Museum.
Outside of special exhibits, there are many places to enjoy a walk around the structure and photo ops with the small pond and large water feature that fronts the glass greenhouse.
Fountain fronting the Crystal Palace
The Forest of Remembrance
The Forest of Remembrance is a part of the park was commissioned to commemorate the 191 victims that lost their lives to the terrorist attacks on March 11, 2004 in Madrid. A place of tranquility and quiet, it is a reflective place to relax and meditate. A forest of Cypresses make up the whole grove and represent the connection between heaven and earth.
Velázquez Palace
The beautiful Valazquez Palace was designed by Ricardo Velazquez Bosco around the end of the 19th century for the occasion of the National Mining Exhibition of 1883. Built in Neo-Rennaissance style the palace now functions as a special exhibits gallery for the Reina Sofia Museum and other temporary exhibitions like the day I visited with modern art collaborations.
Galapagos Fountain
One of the most beautiful fountains in Retiro park is the Galapagos fountain built in the 19th century. King Ferdinand VII commemorated the fountain as a monument to his daughter Isabel II. The fountain shows three fairies that grant wishes to the princess and other elements also wishing elements to the future queen.
The fallen angel or the devil statue
The fallen Angel represents Lucifer falling from heaven and being expelled by god. Created by Ricardo Bellver who was the winner of the National Exhibit of 1870 and then exhibited at Retiro in 1885.
The Cecilio Rodriguez Gardens
If the Retiro Park is already a quiet place, the Fountain of Seagulls sits and was donated by the Norwegian Embassy to Retiro Park.
You’ll find this quiet area also filled with cypresses, stone pines and small ponds with water lilies and various hedges pruned in a variety of shops.
The rose garden
There are two rose gardens, this one is the most spectacular with blooms starting in May to summer season. With over 4000 roses of different varieties in a labyrinth style rose bed pattern and surrounding a central fountain. The Rose Garden is named after Cecilio Rodriguez who built the gardens at the start of the 20th century.
The Paseo de las Estatuas (Paseo de la Argentina)
Close to the pond promenade is the Paseo de la Argentina with 13 limestone statues that mark the entrance to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Originally 108 statues used for decoration but then placed in the and other parts of the building garden instead of the roof of the palace.
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Conclusion on Retiro park in Madrid
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