Parque Buen del Retiro: the Spanish Central Park

Madrid has been one of those cities that I have been desperate to visit for so long and I was fortunate enough to go a few weeks ago. And may I say I was far from disappointed.

One of the sites I was most looking forward to seeing was Parque del Buen Retiro — a lavish garden shrouded with tree-lined avenues and marble statues. It was originally built in the 16th century for the royals as a place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the Royal Palace and was extended and refurbished by architects and designers over the following decades. The park belonged to the Spanish monarchy until the late 19th century, when it became open to the public.

Walking through the park, it seemed to be endless; although I’ve not visited, I imagine it to be similar to Central Park. Filled with beautiful sculptures and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake, and a host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrid’s most prime attractions.

One of the most notable spots in the park is the Palacio de Cristal that sits by a pond. It was designed by the architect Ricardo Velasquez Bosco and was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London that was constructed for the Great Exhibition in 1851. It sits like a large conservatory or a greenhouse overlooking the park and is undoubtedly the most impressive building in Retiro.

It has housed many art exhibitions like the one shown above also. These mammoth-sized forms of the human head blend seamlessly into the iron frame of the building — almost impossible to focus on.

It’s almost as though it was built as an exhibition place specifically for design where it has adapted over centuries for the old to be restored, and the new to be discovered.

The reason I chose to share my discovery of Parque del Buen Retiro is because it is something I would never imagine to find in the city centre of a European capital. The depth of history, transformation and expansion is fascinating and almost other-worldly. Just as it was designed for the monarchy; it is a place of serenity; a place to unwind; to escape.