Among the green areas of Madrid, Retiro Park is the oldest and the most representative one. The Buen Retiro gardens were created by Felipe IV in the 17th century as a recreational estate for the kings of the House of Austria. Later became part of the municipal heritage, opening up to the people of Madrid. The monumental character of El Retiro turns the Park into an open-air museum with monuments as representative as the sculpture of Alfonso XII and the famous Palacio de Cristal.
Puerta de la Independencia (Retiro Park main entrance)
I will meet you at Puerta de la Independencia (located in front of Puerta de Alcalá).
The first stop will be one of the most important sites inside the park, a sculptural and architectural ensemble that pays homage to King Alfonso XII. From there we will have an amazing overview of El Estanque Grande del Buen Retiro, which was the heart of the gardens and one of its most relevant landscape elements.
Is this palace related to Velázquez? We will see! The Palace was built for the celebration of the National Mining Exhibition, held in the city of Madrid. We will discover who was its architect and what were his inspirations.
The hidden gem of the park. The "Crystal Palace" of El Retiro is one of the best examples of the so-called iron architecture in Madrid. Originally planned as a gigantic greenhouse to house tropical plants for the Flora Exhibition of the Philippine Islands, it is currently one of the venues of the Reina Sofía Museum, which hosts various temporary exhibitions.
La Rosaleda del Retiro is a garden area located within the park, being one of the most important and beautiful Rose Gardens that we can find in the city. It is a mandatory stop during the spring months, where we can admire more than 4,000 rose bushes.
It is often said that Madrid is the only city in the world with a monument to the Devil. El Ángel Caído It is actually a fountain that represents the Fallen Angel at the moment of being expelled from Paradise. We will discover its history and some myths, or will they all be true?
After our last stop, we will return to the starting pain on a relaxed walk.
Puerta de la Independencia (Retiro Park main entrance)
Guide Fee
Transportation to the meeting point
Personal Expenses
Week-days: only available during the afternoon
During summer months it's highly recommended to do the tour in the morning.
The park may close without prior notice due to adverse weather conditions.