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Jacinto Benavente Statue, Buen Retiro park, Madrid, Spain (PPL1-Corrected). Photo by Jules Verne Times Two-

Top 10 Amazing Facts about El Retiro Park

El Retiro park is one of the largest parks in the city of Madrid, Spain. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until the late 19th century when it became a public park.

The park became part of a combined UNESCO World Heritage Site with Paseo del Pardo. The park is always buzzing, with people lazing around on the lawns, or wandering between historical attractions.

Learn more about El Retiro park in these top 10 amazing facts.

1. The Park Belonged to Spanish Monarchy

El Retiro Pak was planned in 1632 as a place garden for King Philip IV and designed by Cosimo Lotti, a gardener designer. During the reign of Philip IV and Charles II, magnificent plays were performed in the park for the royal family and the court.

After the death of Philip IV, the garden was neglected in 1665. In 1767, the park underwent several restorations and was opened to the public in 1767.

In 1868, the park became the property of the municipality. Its ownership were passed to public in 1868, at the time of Queen Isabella’s overthrown and gradually became the city’s green heart.

2. There Are Many Activities to Engage in at the Park

One main reason why tourists and people in Madrid love the park is that you can engage in several activities. The park has playgrounds designed for specific age ranges.

The park has an exercising outdoor area for both young and old and is equipped with the right equipment. One can take a walk around and enjoy the cool breezes from the lake.

You can enjoy a boat ride, rowboats can be rented to paddle about the Estanque and horse-drawn carriages are available. If you don’t like rowing, there is a solar-powered boat you can book passage on and many other activities.

3. The Park has a Garden of Roses

Photo by Zarateman-

If you have never seen or smelled a large number of roses, El Retiro park will give you the opportunity. There are more than 4,000 stems here of which you can breath in at once.

The garden of roses features were inspired by the Bagatelle rose garden in the Bois de Boulogne. The garden was attributed to Chief Gardener Cecilio Rodriguez, who designed and built the rose garden.

The rose garden has beautiful picturesque fountains, leafy archways and a scattering of perfectly placed benches, so you can sit and contemplate for a while. Near the roses stands the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, erected in 1922.

4. El Retiro Park has the Amazing Monument to King Alfonso XII

One of the primary monuments in the park is the monument to King Alfonso XII, which overlooks the lake. The monument was erected in 1992.

The statue has unique features, a semicircle of decorated columns with a tower at the center. On top is a 20 meters high tower; King Alfonso sits on horseback.

At the base of the tower, visitors can enjoy panoramas of Madrid, including the picturesque Salamanca neighborhood, the literary Quarter, or Barrio de Las Letras and Gran Via.

5. The Park Has the Popular Velazquez Palace and Crystal Palace

Retiro Park Velazquez Palace. Photo by Gellerj-

Velazquez places dates back to 1884 and was designed by architect Ricardo Velazquez Bosco. It is covered with a glass roof and features more substantial walls of brick and tile. Nowadays, it houses exhibitions for the Reina Sofia Museum.

Crystal Palace is the best place to visit if you are into architecture. It was built in 1887, probably a glass pavilion designed by architect Ricardo Velazquez Bosco. Its glass structure is used for exhibition, which looks spectacular in this space.

The two museums are free to visit at any time and are highly recommended for art enthusiasts visiting Madrid.

6. Enjoy a Stroll at Paseo de la Argentina

Paseo de la Argentina is also known as Paseo de las Estatuas. It is a broad stretch lined by statues of Spanish Monarchs from the Royal Palace sculpted between 1750 and 1753.

It’s a perfect place for a stroll and you can enter the place through Puerta de Espana, the intricate 19th-century access gate.

As you walk through it, you will see Spanish kings such as Carlos II and Fernando IV. There are beautifully landscaped lawns and flower beds stretching on both sides of the stretch.

7. El Retiro Park has a Band That Offers Concerts

Madrid: Dixie in El Retiro park. Photo by David Short-

During summer, the park offers so many opportunities for tourists and visitors, especially music lovers. From late May to early October, Banda Sinfonica de Madrid gives free concerts every Sunday near Retiro pond. You can also enjoy great music from some of the best bands in Madrid.

8. Enjoy the Beautiful Lake in the Park

The lake at El Retiro park is one of the most picturesque palaces in Madrid. It is set in the shadow of gigantic columns and statues.

The lake has rowboats you can rent for a few euros and paddle through the lake’s still water, enjoying its beautiful scenery. 

Around the lake, many puppets show perform and all sorts of street performers and fortune tellers.

9. The Gardens of Cecilio Rodriguez

One of the most beautiful landscaped areas is the garden of Cecilio Rodriguez. It has low hedges, fountains and smooth checkered walkways.

These gardens are home to a pavilion building where visitors can enjoy shows, temporary exhibitions and screenings.

10. The Location of El Retiro Park

The El Retiro Park is a large and popular 1.4 square kilometers park at the edge of the city Centre, very close to the Puerta de Alcala and not far from the Prado Museum.

One can get to the park by using the metro, private car, or taxi, or if you are less than one hour away from the park, you can head by foot as you enjoy beautiful scenic places in Madrid.

The park has gardens, statues and other monuments, an artificial lake, galleries and venues that host various events. The park grounds are surrounded by the present-day city.