Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 28-08-2009
Tags: Spain, travel, vacations
Touted as one of the foremost attractions of Madrid is Retiro Park (in Spanish it is Parque del Buen Retiro). Beautiful promenades and pathways wind through it, there is a quiet lake, stunning memorials and sculptures as well as numerous festivities and fun happenings.
Following its opening in the year 1868 it has housed royalty in gorgeous palaces as well as been the site for various important buildings throughout history. Due to the Napoleonic wars many structures were lost or are barely discernible however today there are numerous sites still worth seeing.
Popular sites within the park include the Palacio de Cristal, a glass structure originally used to house exotic plants, and the Palacio de Velzquez, a former industrial exhibition house now mainly used to display art. Other amazing sites are Ejercito, a preeminent museum for military artifacts and Casn where you will find world renowned paintings from the 18 and 19 hundreds.
There are many fantastic places to explore, but the heart of the park lies within Estanque del Retiro, the large lake at the northern entrance. Not surprisingly summer is one of the more popular times for the park when entire families can be found taking in the beautiful surroundings along the perimeter of the lake. For those wishing for a little activity, you can rent a boat from one of the local vendors there and row around it.
Another beautiful feature of the park is the Rosaleda rose garden, enjoyed by both tourists and natives, as well as the nearby Cecilia Rodriguez gardens and Serrano Street’s outstanding restaurants.
There are many outdoor cafes in and around the park for you to sample a range of Spanish cuisine. It is also home to various entertainment forms such as dancers, street musicians, fortune tellers, and jugglers all alongside the local citizens that are out and about for a simple walk.
Click Here : Spanish Phrases
