Editors' Picks

Retiro Park

Retiro-Park, Madrid, Spain

Originally built as a royal retreat, the Retiro Park opened to the public in the 19th century and has been a mainstay of Madrid life ever since. Families flock to the park’s lake on summer afternoons to rent rowboats or watch the puppeteers and street performers that line the sidewalks surrounding it—but no matter the season, the park is a beautiful sight that should not be missed. Couples canoodle over picnic lunches spread beneath the shady trees, and families enjoy bike rides around the park's winding paths. Whatever your age, you’ll find something that will pique your interest. The whimsical rose garden on the south side of the park is not to be missed.

Notable sites within the park’s boundaries include the Crystal Palace, originally built in 1887 as a greenhouse and now used for art exhibitions; the Fountain of the Falling Angel, inspired by Paradise Lost; and the Forest of the Departed, a memorial for the victims of 2004’s Atocha train bombing.

Written by Henley Vazquez

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