Casón del Buen Retiro

Advantages: All
Disadvantages: Any

.... It is very closed to other important monuments of the city like Prado Museum, Alcalá Gate, Cibeles Square, Loyalty Square or Atocha Station. History of the park It was built thakns to the Count-Duke of Olivares, "Prime Minister" of Philip IV, who told the King to build a Palace rounded by trees, lakes, fountains, sculptures… During the reign of this king, balls and theatre representations were famous all around Europe, and lots of kings and aristocrats came to this palace to enjoy it. During the French invasion of Spain, this palace hosted the French troops… so good bye palace. Huge amounts of explosives were taken into the palace, and due to mistakes, most of them exploded inside the it . Nowadays, only two parts of the palace stay: the Museum of the Army and the "Casón del Buen Retiro" (Big house of the good retreat), where... Read review

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Advantages: Huge park, architectural wonders
Disadvantages: no English language signs

...to behold. There are two other historic buildings, in fact the only remains of the original palace. I tried to visit both, as they are museums, but they were unfortunately closed; the Museo del Ejercito and the Cason del Beun Retiro. Another wonder is the Angel Caudio (The Fallen Angel) which is huge, architecturally memorable and depicts Satan of all things. It is situated in the famous rose gardens, the Roselada which I found lovely even at the end of summer. I strolled around the formal gardens which I really did like for its statues, boxed hedges and huge, shaped trees where there were literally hundreds of people walking around and like me taking heaps of photos. Throughout the park there are plenty of wide, open pathways with many thousands of colourful trees, bushes and other plants - it is so well set out, you can... Read review

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Advantages: For me, that is located in Madrid
Disadvantages: For you, that is located in Madrid

...“El Retiro” or “El Buen Retiro” is to Madrid, like Hyde Park is to London and Central Park to New York. It is a big park in the heart of the town. It was built during the kingdom of Felipe IVth, but it was in the time of Carlos the IIIrd when people was allowed to visit but in a very restricted way. With the First Republic the park was property of the town, for enjoyment of all its inhabitants. You can reach it by metro “Retiro” or by buses, with numbers 1, 2, 202, 9, 15, 20, 28 and it is surrounded bay Alcala, O’Donnell, Alfonso XII streets. The main entrance is in Plaza de la Independencia just in front of the “Puerta de Alcalá” and five minute walking you reach the pool with the monument erected in memorial of Alfonso XII. You can rent a boat, or visit the “Crystal Palace” that remember a special cage of birds but now... Read review

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