Retiro Park, Madrid

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Retiro Park is HUGE! My friend, Ana and I spent about two hours one afternoon. This was not enough time to get through the entire park.

You may find of interest:
- "Angel Caido" - Or "Fallen Angel" - This is the only statue in the world dedicated to the Devil.
- Paddle boating.
- There are so many nooks and crannies to explore with fountains and statues of all sorts.
- Try an horchata at one of the terrazas. They're delicious!


For further info, you may want to visit the site below:

NOTHING BEATS RETIRO PARK!

The Retiro was originally built for the Spanish king Phillip IV and was opened to the general public in the 1800's. Situated behind the Prado museum. Retiro is also a central meeting point for all sorts of people fromroller skating youngsters io older men playing 'petanca' to football players and joggers of all ages. The park has a number of 'terrazas' where you can sip a beer or enjoy an 'horchata'. The central focus of the park is the large lake where you can go boating. Especially on a Sunday afternoon it is worthwhile to visit the park.

El Parque del Buen Retiro (as this is its full official name) is the most beautiful park of Madrid. It just happens that I live in a nearby area, so Retiro is my favorite place in which to read the paper during Sunday mornings, practicing my not very developed photographic skills or just walking with my friends when they came to visit the neighborhood.

Apart from the impressive central lake, and the elegant Palacio de Cristal, I always find fascinating the Fallen Angel statue that is placed in the southernmost part of the park.

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Parque de Retiro has always been a favorite spot of mine in Madrid. Its location and look are both fabulous. Without having to travel far out of town, you can escape the city in this gorgeous park which, I'm happy to report, is still meticulously maintained.

I have so many memories of having spent time in the various sections of this park. I was so happy to be here once again on a brilliantly sunny day. It's truly a beautiful and wonderful place.

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It was a holiday when we were in Madrid, and nothing much was open. So after we spent some time at the Prado, we went to the Retiro Park and my sister fed her child lunch there.

I identified one other picture that I took in the park (photo 2) - a picture of the Statue of the Fallen Angel Lucifer who has been thrown out of heaven and must suffer pigeon droppings for eternity. It is claimed that this statue is the only known public monument of the devil. Apparently I didn't remember or didn't know what the statue was of because I labeled it "Statue with Pigs"

Park is located east of city center, close to Prado Museum. Its main entrance is near the Alcala Gate, at the Plaza Idependence. It is Madrid's most popular park and favorite place for families, street musicians, painters,street performers...The park is created as a royal park. Close to northern entrance of park is beautiful lake. You can rent a rowing boat if you like. There you can see a large monument with statue of King Alfonso XII. In the park there are lot of fountains, Rose Garden, Palacio de Cristal and Museo del Ejercito.

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In the CTBA business park, in the north end of Paseo de la Castellana stands 4 very modern structures including the highest structure in Spain – The Torre Caja Madrid which stands at 250 metres high. Prior to 2007 the Torre Picasso was the highest standing at 157 metres. The other buildings alongside are the Torre de Cristal at 249m, the Torre Sacry Vallehermoso at 236m and the Torre Espacio at 224m.

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Retiro park is right in the center of the city and the place where the inhabitants of Madrid go to relax and to breathe.
It´s a huge park where you can just relax on the grass or on the many benches or take a boat on the lake, sit in a cafe plus many other things.
It´s the perfect place to go when you think that it is all getting a bit too stressed and you need to relax.

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This park in the center of Madrid is the perfect place to rest after visiting any museum. Its name is Los Jardines del Buen Retiro.
The origin dates back to 1630, when the royal favourite and minister Conde-Duque de Olivares gave the monarch Felipe IV some land near San Jerónimo monastery, by then in the limits of the city. The Buen Retiro palace was built for the retreat (retiro) of the king.
The king Carlos III was the first to allow the people to enter in the park, on condition that they were properly clean and dressed.
The park occupies 118 ha and offers different environments.

The most representative image is the Estanque Grande (great pond) with the monument to Alfonso XII is on the shore.
A smaller pond is in front of the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), which was built in 1887 for the exposition of the Philippine islands. Constructed with steel structure and glass, its purpose was to keep exotic plants. Today it houses temporary art exhibitions.
La rosaleda (the rose garden) was made in 1915, following a general tendency in European gardens. Different varieties from all over Europe were planted.

Other sights are the Paseo de las Estatuas, flanked by statues of Spanish monarchs; the Fuente de la Alcachofa (artichoke fountain), designed by Ventura Rodríguez (as well as Neptuno fountain in Paseo del Prado); the Fuente del Ángel Caído, with a bronze statue inspired in Paradise Lost by Milton; Kiosco de música, Fuente de los Galápagos, Casa de Vacas, Casita del Pescador, Casa de Fieras…
The Royal Botanic Garden is in the Retiro Park.

El Bosque de los Ausentes (the Forest of the Departed) is a memorial to the victims of the attack that Madrid suffered on March 11, 2004. 192 people were killed as a result of a terrorist attack. God rest their souls.

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Reminds me of Central Park, maybe smaller. No doubt , it is one of the best known parks in Madrid. it is located at the Jeronimo's District occupying 120 hectares. Originally, it is the Palace Buen Retiro Gardens which was opened to the public after a decree of the First Spanish Republic in 1868. The park was once where Felipe 1V's royal palce stood. The remains are in Cason del Buen Retiro and in the Spain's Army Museum. The parks garden welcomes every visitor to a change of pace and a pleasant stay .Here you'll see foreign visitors and the locals with families and frineds lingering around , enjoying under the shady trees, boating or having refrescos at the man-made lake.