If you visit Madrid's main art gallery, the Prado Museum, you will see a beautiful park nearby. It was created in the 17th century for the secluded relaxation of the royal family, which is why it was called Parque del Buen Retiro — a park of pleasant solitude. Today, Retiro Park is a popular holiday destination for madridians and guests of the Spanish capital.
Of course, Buen Retiro plays the role of a place for walking perfectly. But how many exciting things can be seen walking along its alleys! One of the most beautiful buildings on its territory is the Crystal Palace. The architect Ricardo Velasquez Bosco, who built it, is also famous for the fact that he participated in the reconstruction of the architectural ensemble of the Alhambra in Granada. On the territory of the Retiro Park in Madrid, Velázquez also built the Brick Palace. Both buildings are used for temporary exhibitions of the Reina Sofia Art Centre.
Do not pass by the park sculptures. The most unusual of them is the Fallen Angel. The figure of Lucifer is called the only monument to the devil in the world. And children prefer the Galapagos Fountain, decorated with stone turtles, frogs and fish.
The real charm of the park is the rose garden. When flowering, the honey smell of roses can be felt from afar. But the rest of the plants are good, especially since some have a particularly sophisticated look thanks to the masters of landscape art. The strawberry tree, the symbol of Madrid, also grows here. Near the Crystal Palace is a pond with a fountain — it resembles a fountain on Lake Geneva. There is also a large lake in the park where you can swim in a boat.
In general, the choice of activities in Buen Retiro is extensive. You can ride a bike and roller-skate, work out on sports fields, have picnics on the lawns, watch the performances of street artists, and make a herbarium in the botanical garden. And if you are relaxing in Madrid with children, then in Retiro Park, you will find several playgrounds and an open-air puppet theatre.
Note that other parks in Madrid are nearby, including the Royal Botanical Gardens and Casa de Campo Park.
