Madrid Retiro Park Tour

The walking tour lasts about an hour and a half and includes a local guide who knows every secret of the Retiro Park. Normally, the starting point is the Puerta de Alcalá, the old entrance to the capital and one of the most photographed places in Madrid. If you look closely, you will notice that the two sides are different. Without realising it, King Carlos III chose two different designs and the architect fused them together.

The entrance to the park is a few metres further on. Once inside, a very common stop is the pond, which was probably born during the reign of Philip II. In the past, the artificial lake was used to stage shows and even naval battles.

Behind it is the architectural ensemble dedicated to Alfonso XII, inspired by the monuments dedicated to Wilhelm I (in Berlin) and Victor Emmanuel II (in Rome). The king is depicted on horseback and stands at the top of a column. The figure is the work of Mariano Benlliure, a Valencian living in Madrid who also designed other monuments in the capital.

This green oasis in the heart of Madrid is also an exhibition space. Thanks to the collaboration with the Reina Sofía Museum, the Crystal Palace hosts temporary exhibitions of great interest. The structure was designed by Ricardo Velázquez Bosco, who completed the work in 1887. The guide will tell you the history of this building, which is adorned with a romantic pond inhabited by ducks and swans.

The Retiro is a must on any visit to the city. It originally housed the leisure residence of Philip IV and only became a public park in 1868. In addition to the aforementioned attractions, it is home to the Fuente del Ángel Caído fountain, the Templete de Música, the Rose Garden of Cecilio Rodríguez and other monuments.