Royal Botanic Garden, El Eltiro Park, Glass Garden, and Rose Garden
The weather in Madrid in early September is hot.
Of course, it’s better compared to July and August. As seen in the photos, it was a cycle of clouds and sunshine, but it was still hot, tiring, and exhausting.
After passing Gran Vía, the next itinerary required at least another 4–5 hours of walking, so a break was needed.
TORRONS VICENS
While looking for a café, I discovered a turrón shop! You can find them all over Spain. It was fascinating to see this dessert for the first time in Madrid, Spain. Turrón is a traditional Spanish snack, a caramelized treat made with peanuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, and honey. It wasn’t too sweet and was really delicious.
This Vicens is a representative brand of turrón.
There are said to be two types of turrón: Jijona turrón and Alicante turrón. Jijona turrón has a soft texture, while Alicante turrón has a crunchy texture. Jijona turrón is made by grinding almonds, while Alicante turrón is made by keeping the nuts whole.
Umami
This is a café called Umami near the botanical garden.
I had a detox water with mint, lemon, and strawberry when I was hot and thirsty, and it was so delicious that I still remember it and often make it at home. I ordered a pistachio muffin and an ube latte, and they were really delicious. While thinking it would have been nice if the portions were larger, I organized my photos and massaged my legs.
Real Jardín Botánico
I crossed the street and went to the Royal Botanic Garden. It’s free to enter every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but I paid 4 euros to get in.
The person standing at the entrance of the garden is Murillo, a famous painter from the Baroque period.
Since it wasn’t spring when the flowers bloom, the botanical garden was mostly green, and compared to other botanical gardens, it was a bit plain and didn’t have much to see.
The botanical garden was somewhat small and not very crowded, making it quite peaceful.
The plants were well-maintained, and there was also an indoor greenhouse.
Palacio de Cristal
After leaving the botanical garden and heading towards its rear, there is a hill where you can climb to find El Retiro Park.
Today, I really wanted to visit this Glass Garden the most, so despite the heat, I rushed across the park to get to the Glass Garden.
However… Temporarily Closed… It was undergoing interior repairs, so I couldn’t enter and could only see inside from outside.
Unfortunately, I had to content myself with taking selfies and then head back.
The Palacio de Cristal, shaped like a Greek cross, is mostly made of iron framing with glass, built on a brick foundation and adorned with ceramics. The Glass Palace was constructed in 1887 as part of an exhibition showcasing exotic plants and animals from the Philippines when it was still a Spanish colony. Today, the palace is used for contemporary art exhibitions organized by the Reina Sofía Museum.
Rose Garden
The rose garden next to the Glass Garden. It’s a tranquil garden with thousands of rose bushes, stone fountains, ponds, and vintage wooden structures. It was much more beautiful here than the botanical garden I paid to enter…
If you come during the blooming season of May to June, you might see an even more beautiful rose garden.
Cecilio Rodríguez Garden
There is another garden where peacocks live.
Perhaps because it’s September, the trees with autumn leaves looked quite striking.
Just like Central Park, there’s a lake here called the Great Pond of El Retiro. People were also boating here.
Next, I left the park to visit the Prado Museum right next to it.
It might be a good idea to plan a tour that includes both the Prado Museum and El Retiro Park, as they are right next to each other.
