Visitors to Madrid consider Retiro Park, otherwise known as Parque del Buen Retiro, to be one of its cardinal attractions. It boasts miles of explorable walkways and paths, a serene lake, and lots of magnificent monuments and sculptures; numerous festivals and events take place there every year.
It used to be the location of a royal palace, and has held numerous historically and culturally significant buildings before and since its public opening in 1868. Unfortunately, some buildings were destroyed, or left largely in ruins by the Napoleonic wars, but the ones remaining are certainly worth visiting.
The Palacio de Cristal, a glass structure that was originally used to house a variety of exotic plants, and the Palacio de Velzquez, which once held exhibitions for various industries but is now used primarily to display art exhibits, are popular sites within the park grounds. So too are the Casn, which now houses a collection of famous 19th and 20th century paintings, and the Ejrcito, which is one of Spain's foremost military museums.
The centerpiece is large lake near the northern entrance, called the Estanque del Retiro. Not surprisingly summer is one of the more popular times for the park when entire families can be found taking in the beautiful surroundings along the perimeter of the lake. Local vendors dot the shore, renting boats to visitors who wish to take more intimate look at the lake's beauty.
The Rosaleda rose garden is another of the park's beautiful features, one frequently enjoyed by tourists and natives alike, and nearby are the equally delightful Cecilia Rodriguez gardens and the outstanding restaurants on Serrano Street.
There are many outdoor cafes in and around the park for you to sample a range of Spanish cuisine. There's also entertainment in the form of street musicians, dancers, fortune tellers and jugglers, performing among the people who are out to take a leisurely stroll.
It used to be the location of a royal palace, and has held numerous historically and culturally significant buildings before and since its public opening in 1868. Unfortunately, some buildings were destroyed, or left largely in ruins by the Napoleonic wars, but the ones remaining are certainly worth visiting.
The Palacio de Cristal, a glass structure that was originally used to house a variety of exotic plants, and the Palacio de Velzquez, which once held exhibitions for various industries but is now used primarily to display art exhibits, are popular sites within the park grounds. So too are the Casn, which now houses a collection of famous 19th and 20th century paintings, and the Ejrcito, which is one of Spain's foremost military museums.
The centerpiece is large lake near the northern entrance, called the Estanque del Retiro. Not surprisingly summer is one of the more popular times for the park when entire families can be found taking in the beautiful surroundings along the perimeter of the lake. Local vendors dot the shore, renting boats to visitors who wish to take more intimate look at the lake's beauty.
The Rosaleda rose garden is another of the park's beautiful features, one frequently enjoyed by tourists and natives alike, and nearby are the equally delightful Cecilia Rodriguez gardens and the outstanding restaurants on Serrano Street.
There are many outdoor cafes in and around the park for you to sample a range of Spanish cuisine. There's also entertainment in the form of street musicians, dancers, fortune tellers and jugglers, performing among the people who are out to take a leisurely stroll.
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