El Retiro Park, Urban park in Jerónimos district, Madrid, Spain
El Retiro Park is an urban park in the Jerónimos district of Madrid covering 125 hectares with 15,000 trees throughout its grounds. The space holds several gardens, monuments, and a central artificial lake where visitors can rent rowboats.
The grounds were created in the 1630s as royal gardens for King Felipe IV and remained reserved for the monarchy until the 19th century. Following partial destruction during the War of Independence, the park opened its gates to the public.
The Glass Palace and the Velázquez Palace serve as exhibition spaces for contemporary art within the Reina Sofía Museum program. The displays rotate regularly and showcase installations and sculptures by modern artists that visitors can explore at no charge.
The grounds open at 6 AM and close at 10 PM during winter months and at midnight from April through September. Weekends draw larger crowds, while weekdays offer quieter walks through the paths.
The Fallen Angel statue stands at exactly 666 meters (2,185 feet) above sea level and ranks among the few monuments worldwide dedicated to Lucifer. The pedestal holds a bronze figure by sculptor Ricardo Bellver dating from 1877.
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