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MAC Madrid - Sights & Attractions - El Retiro
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Aguirre School


Neo-mudéjar towers
Alcalá, 62
Planta Baja
Madrid, Madrid 28009
Spain
bascunancmj@munimadrid.es
A spectacular and unique example of architecture of its kind in Madrid, this neo-mudéjar building of red tiles, red brick and ironwork feautures wonderful Arabic geometrical flourishes that are reminiscent of medieval buildings all over old Castile. You'll find it in the modern district of Salamanca on the corner in which Alcalá and O'Donnell streets meet. It was designed by architect Rodríguez Ayuso to be a school for the intellectual Lucas Aguirre, and now houses council offices. It is not open to the public.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Aguirre School photo by David Danzig
Photo: David Danzig
 

 
Archaeological Museum


Remains from pre-history to the 19th century
Serrano, 13
Madrid, Madrid 28001
Spain
+34 91 577 7912
doc@man.es
It contains thousands of pre-historic artefacts and remains from the ancient civilizations based in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. One of the highlights is the museum's reproduction of the Altamira caves in northern Spain with their fascinating pre-historic cave paintings (open 11a-midday & 5:30-6:30p). There's a research library as well as video and slide-show facilities.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Archaeological Museum photo by Recuerdos Desconcert
Photo: Recuerdos Desconcert
Archaeological Museum photo by Allan Lam
Photo: Allan Lam
Archaeological Museum photo by Stephan Burn
Photo: Stephan Burn
Archaeological Museum photo by Serenity Forbes
Photo: Serenity Forbes
Archaeological Museum photo by Alba Vallejo
Photo: Alba Vallejo
Archaeological Museum photo by Paul Blockley
Photo: Paul Blockley
 

 
Casón del Buen Retiro


19th century Spanish paintings
Calle de Felipe IV 13
Madrid 28014
Spain
+34 91 4680481
This building was once the Buen Retiro Palace's ballroom. The palace no longer exists and the ballroom now belongs to the Museo del Prado (Prado Museum). It houses a collection of 19th century paintings by artists such as Madrazo, Fortuny, Rosales, Picasso and Sorolla. The attractive 18th century dome was painted by Lucas Jordán.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Casón del Buen Retiro photo by Juan Seguí Moreno
Photo: Juan Seguí Moreno
Casón del Buen Retiro photo by Luis Pablo Núñez
Photo: Luis Pablo Núñez
Casón del Buen Retiro photo by 'S de Santi'
Photo: 'S de Santi'
Casón del Buen Retiro photo by Julio Contreras
Photo: Julio Contreras
 

 
Crystal Palace


Romantic-style palace in Retiro park
Paseo Duque de Fernán Núñez, s/n
Parque del Retiro
Madrid, Madrid 28012
Spain
+34 91 574 6614
Madrid hosted an exhibition on the Philippine Islands in 1887 and the same architect who created the nearby Palacio de Velázquez was hired to design this greenhouse to hold all the flowers brought over from the islands. It's an attractive steel and glass design that now houses temporary exhibitions of contemporary art organized by the Museo Reina Sofía. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Crystal Palace photo by Miguel
Photo: Miguel
Crystal Palace photo by Nick
Photo: Nick
Crystal Palace photo by Will Vaughan
Photo: Will Vaughan
Crystal Palace photo by Steve Silverman
Photo: Steve Silverman
Crystal Palace photo by Jose Manuel Cruz
Photo: Jose Manuel Cruz
Crystal Palace photo by Jack Christfield
Photo: Jack Christfield
Crystal Palace photo by Benjamin Spencer
Photo: Benjamin Spencer
Crystal Palace photo by will roberts
Photo: will roberts
Crystal Palace photo by Michael Leftwich
Photo: Michael Leftwich
Crystal Palace photo by Dawn McGalliard
Photo: Dawn McGalliard
Crystal Palace photo by Paul Mason
Photo: Paul Mason
Crystal Palace photo by Filippo Rosa
Photo: Filippo Rosa
Crystal Palace photo by Donna Long
Photo: Donna Long
Crystal Palace photo by Markus Gabriel
Photo: Markus Gabriel
Crystal Palace photo by Opal in the sky with diamonds
Photo: Opal in the sky with diamonds
Crystal Palace photo by Bill Hansen
Photo: Bill Hansen
Crystal Palace photo by Amy Rooimans
Photo: Amy Rooimans
Crystal Palace photo by Thomas Stellmach
Photo: Thomas Stellmach
 

 
Fuente del Berro Estate


17th-century farm and country house
Calle de Enrique de Almonte
Madrid, Madrid 28028
Spain
The royal family's water supply used to come from the well by the old country house in these romantic gardens. This attractive park is an oasis of peace and tranquilty sandwiched between the welter of traffic on the M-30 and the huge television station tower, Torrespaña (or el Pirulí as the locals call it). There's a pretty viewpoint and you'll see statues dedicated to Pushkin (Russian writer) and Bécquer (Spanish poet). The latter is located in the Water Garden alongside little lakes, rivers and waterfalls.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Fuente del Berro Estate photo by Ana Alas
Photo: Ana Alas
Fuente del Berro Estate photo by Pablo Sanz García
Photo: Pablo Sanz García
 

 
Gate of Alcalá


Famous gateway to Madrid
Plaza de la Independencia
Madrid, Madrid 28001
Spain
One of Madrid's enduring symbols, it's made entirely of granite with one central arch and two smaller passageways on each side. Carlos III had his Court architect Sabatini build the gate in 1778 as a monument to himself and to show visiting merchants from Aragon how important the city had become. The ornamental statues are the work of Roberto Michel and Francisco Gutiérrez. It's location is spectacular, as it stands on raised ground opposite another symbol of the city, Cibeles Fountain.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Gate of Alcalá photo by Juan Fco Rodríguez Hervella
Photo: Juan Fco Rodríguez Hervella
Gate of Alcalá photo by Koldo Oteo Orellana
Photo: Koldo Oteo Orellana
 

 
Museum of Decorative Arts


15th-19th-century minor works of art
Montalbán, 12
Madrid, Madrid 28014
Spain
+34 91 532 6499
This small 19th-century palace houses an interesting collection of household objects and decorative arts which reflects the history of everyday life in Spain from the 15th-19th centuries. Over 15000 pieces of porcelain, glass, furniture, ivory, ceramics, paintings and sculptures fill the exhibition space. The collection of glass objects shows how things have changed over time. There are examples of textiles dating from the 2nd century to the present day. Fans, wallets, carpets, toys, furniture and tobacco pouches complete the range of fascinating objects on display.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Museum of Decorative Arts photo by wcities
Photo: wcities
 

 
Museum of the National Astronomical Observatory


The history of Spanish astronomy
Calle De Alfonso XII 3
Madrid, Madrid 28014
Spain
+34 91 527 0107
This observatory was built in 1790 in Retiro Park. It's close to Atocha station and the botanical gardens. There's a Gregorian telescope from 1790, two telescopes from 1796 along with other examples of equipment used during this period. Admission: free

Review © 2007, Wcities
Museum of the National Astronomical Observatory photo by ebifry
Photo: ebifry
 

 
Palacio de Velázquez


Grand palace in Retiro park
Paseo Duque de Fernán Núñez, s/n
Parque del Retiro
Madrid, Madrid 28014
Spain
+34 91 573 6245
This palace was originally built as a pavilion for the Mining Exhibition of 1883 and it's now used as an exhibition hall for contemporary art organized by the Museo Reina Sofia. It's located in front of the famous Artichoke Fountain in Retiro Park. The exterior is a marvellous display of two-tone brickwork and tiles around a metal frame crowned by a dome. The palace is named after the architect who designed and built it, Velázquez Bosco. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Palacio de Velázquez photo by Daniel Nikodemus
Photo: Daniel Nikodemus
Palacio de Velázquez photo by Daniel Nikodemus
Photo: Daniel Nikodemus
Palacio de Velázquez photo by Federico Meza
Photo: Federico Meza
Palacio de Velázquez photo by Federico Meza
Photo: Federico Meza
Palacio de Velázquez photo by javier
Photo: javier
Palacio de Velázquez photo by Alicia Chiang
Photo: Alicia Chiang
Palacio de Velázquez photo by César Rincón
Photo: César Rincón
 

 
Park Zoo


Green areas, lakes & rides
Carretera de Loeches
Madrid, Madrid 28850
Spain
+34 91 677 7060
This spacious zoo contains several natural lakes and is home to a wide range of different animals, such as lions, camels, wolves, pumas, bears, and chimpanzees. The tame animals are allowed to roam around the park in complete freedom. There is a reptile house and on weekends and holidays the staff organize special displays of parrots, birds of prey and snakes. The children's amusement park offers pony rides as well. It makes a perfect day out for a young family and there is a restaurant on-site. Admission: adults EUR7.

Review © 2007, Wcities
 

 
Parque del Retiro


Madrid's playground
Plaza de la Independencia, s/n
Madrid 28001
Spain
+1 34 91 5888790
It's known as the "lungs of Madrid" and few cities can boast such a large park (118 hectares) in such a central location. There's a large boating lake and the park has three art galleries (Casa de Vacas, Palacio de Cristal and Palacio de Velázquez. On weekends and holidays, it fills with madrileños (citizens of Madrid) and performers of all sorts, including mime artists and jugglers, painters, singers, puppet masters and fortune-tellers. It was built as a royal park in the 17th century, and until 1868 it was the exclusive reserve of the aristocracy.

Review © 2007, Wcities
Parque del Retiro photo by Kathie Sierra
Photo: Kathie Sierra
Parque del Retiro photo by Ana Gutierrez
Photo: Ana Gutierrez
Parque del Retiro photo by Alejandro Pareja
Photo: Alejandro Pareja
Parque del Retiro photo by LOS MARQUETEROS
Photo: LOS MARQUETEROS
Parque del Retiro photo by David Dennis
Photo: David Dennis
Parque del Retiro photo by Vincent Bifrare
Photo: Vincent Bifrare
 

 
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Other nearby cities:
Toledo (81 miles)
Salamanca (160 miles)
Zaragoza (274 miles)
Bilbao (315 miles)
Valencia (325 miles)
Seville (403 miles)
Barcelona (509 miles)
Bordeaux (540 miles)
Montpellier (720 miles)
Marseille (826 miles)

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