Park Buen Retiro

Buen Retiro Park is a city park in Madrid’s Retiro district, a popular Sunday holiday destination for Madrid and a landmark in the city. One of the largest parks in the Spanish capital has an area of ​​120 hectares. Initially, it adjoined the palace of the same name by Philip IV and served as a place for court entertainments, festive balls and theatrical performances. After the death of Philip IV, the park fell into disrepair, and subsequently suffered greatly during the war with Napoleon. The Buen Retiro Palace itself was demolished, only the buildings of the Prado Museum Museum and the Army Museum were preserved in the park. The park, restored under Ferdinand VII, adorns a small lake with an area of ​​3.7 hectares with a monument to King Alfonso XII. In 1887, two palaces were erected for international exhibitions in the park – brick and crystal.