When traveling to Madrid, you must be sure to go to the Parque del Buen Retiro.
Originally created as a royal park, Parque del Buen Retiro is now the most popular park in Madrid. During the weekends, the crowds are comprised with families who enjoy strolls, picnics. Musicians, painters, and performers often spread out throughout the park to provide entertainment for the people.
The park contains two museums, which are surviving buildings from the original palace. The Museo del Ejército is an army museum that contains armor and the sword of El cid or La Tizona. Another museum in the park is the Casón del Buen Retiro of 19th and 20th century paintings. Another site to see in the park is the Palacio de Cristal. This beautiful glass building is on the south side of the park on a much smaller lake. It is used for temporary exhibitions.
The northern side of the park has a large lake, the Estanque del Retiro. This lake has a large monument with a statue of King Alfonso XII. The lake also has boats that people can rent for a few hours so they can relax and enjoy the day.
There are more sites to see if you travel here and explore. Civilians provide a wide array of characters and it is great to witness such ornate glamour used in an everyday park for today’s locals and tourists. It is a fantastic place and a must see!
Article written by Iris Agrafiotis.
