El Retiro

In the heart of Madrid, we find this 130-hectare park acting as an authentic lung to the city. The origins of the Retiro are due to the frivolities of Felipe IV. He adored the courtly balls and parties and so he chose this place in order to build a recreation residence: El Real Sitio del Buen Retiro.

The War of Independence meant the almost total destruction of this Royal Site and the only places which survived were the park, the Ball Room and the Kingdoms Room. The Retiro was used exclusively by the nobility up to the times of Charles III who, though in a very restricted way, began to allow the entrance to the people of Madrid.

Finally, during the 1st Republic it was ordered that the park was of public use. We recommend you to visit the most beautiful and original building in the Retiro, the Crystal Palace. It is a glass and iron building which is located next to one of the lakes in the area.

The Royal Botanic Gardens

They were founded by Charles III (1774) to promote culturally the eastern part of the city. The monarch asked all the Spanish possessions governors to send to Madrid plants and seeds of all the species from every country. That is why the Royal Botanic Gardens gather one of the most exotic and important plant collections in Europe.

It is the greenest and most extended area in Madrid. With a surface of 1,700 hectares, it is full of pine trees, black poplars and oaks. It was used as a game preserve by Felipe II and it remained the royal preserve up to 1931. Then, the Republican government opened it to the public.

Along with the Retiro it is one of the main leisure centres to the people of Madrid.