Sunday, April 24, 2011

Madrid - Retiro Park

Whilst Parque del Buen Retiro (at about 300 acres) is significantly smaller than New York's Central Park (840 acres) it truly is nonetheless magnificent. Filled with wonderful sculpture and monuments, a peaceful lake and host to many different events, it's rightfully 1 of Madrid's premier attractions.

The park grounds were when the province of a royal palace of Phillip IV. Evidence of that remains inside the form of the Casón Del Buen Retiro and also the Museo del Ejército. The remaining buildings had been decimated largely by the Napoleonic wars around the beginning of the 19th century.

The Casón now houses a collection of 19th and 20th century paintings, which includes art by the Spanish painter Sorolla.

The Ejército is one of Spain's foremost Army museums and it houses the sword of the well-known Spanish warrior El Cid. Together with El Cid's famous La Tizona, there are displays of armor, a cross carried by Columbus on his sea voyage to the New World and other artifacts.

Although created in 1632, the park was very first opened to the public in 1868. Given that that time, madrilenos have strolled its sidewalks enjoying views of rolling greenery, street musicians, jugglers, fortune tellers and just ordinary citizens out for a warm walk.

The centerpiece of that wonderful scenery is the huge lake near the northern entrance referred to as the Estanque del Retiro. Visitors can rent a boat and row leisurely across the surface. As they do they can see, along with those on the shore, the statue of King Alfonso XII astride his horse. Erected in 1922, the statue is backed by a semi-circular colonnade that completes the view.

At the southern end is another lake next to which is the extraordinary Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace). Completed in 1887 and modeled after a similar building in London, it was intended to house a number of exotic plants. A short stroll away is the Palacio de Velázquez which as soon as held exhibitions for numerous industries. It's now utilised primarily to home temporary exhibits from the Queen Sofia art museum.

The Rosaleda rose garden is an additional of the park's gorgeous features, one frequently enjoyed by tourists and natives alike. Amongst the quite a few rose bushes stands a statue called El Angel Caído depicting Satan as 1 of the fallen angels. It's uncomplicated to locate by walking down the Avenida de Cuba by way of the Plaza de Honduras.

Nearby are the equally delightful Cecilia Rodriguez gardens and not far away are outstanding restaurants on Serrano Street. For something less high-priced, there are plenty of outdoor cafes near the lake. Only a few minutes walk distant is the Prado museum where you can spend hours enjoying the works housed in one of Europe's finest art museums.

The Buen Retiro - 'the good retreat' - is aptly named. Go and discover why!

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