The Puerta de Alcalá ("Alcalá Gate") is a Neo-classical monument in the Plaza de la Independencia in Madrid, Spain. It stands near the city center and several meters away from the main entrance to the Parque del Buen Retiro. The square is bisected by Alcalá street, although the street itself doesn't cross through the monument, and it is the origin of the Alfonso XII, Serrano and Olózaga streets. Its name originates from the old path from Madrid to the nearby town of Alcalá de Henares. Madrid in the late 19th century, still remained a somewhat drab villa in appearance, surrounded by medieval walls. Around the year 1774, king Charles III commissioned Francesco Sabatini to construct a monumental gate in the city wall through which an expanded road to the city of Alcalá was to pass, replacing an older, smaller, gate which stood nearby. It was inaugurated in 1778.

Buen Retiro Park features several alleys and paths named for famous Latin locations, such as Plaza de Honduras and Plaza de Nicaragua. This square presents a beautiful fountain, Fuente de los Galápagos (Fountain of the Turtles), that was built in 1832 to celebrate the birth of Isabella II. The fountain depicts a column embraced by four children and dolphins, and at its lower level stand two frogs and two turtles, from which came the name.

In the middle of the park lies a large artificial lake called El Estanque. Canoe rentals are provided so you can take a boat ride and relax while enjoying the surrounding views of fountains and monuments, including the Monument of the King Alfonso XII located on the other side of the park.

The Paseo de Argentina in Buen Retiro Park is popularly known as the Paseo de las Estatuas (Alley of Statues). It features a double array of sculptures, representing several monarchs, that were constructed during the reign of Ferdinand VI. The statues were initially designed to decorate the Royal Palace, but over time have become spread all over the capital, including this park and some provinces.

The area known as El Parterre (Plaza del Parterre) is a newer garden that was designed during the reign of Philip V (1700-1746). There you can see 18th century French style gardens, featuring a rare and wide variety of tree species. It is a favorite place for photographers to use as a background and for locals to take walks.

Fuente de la Alcachofa is a baroque style fountain that was designed in the 18th century by a famous Spanish architect. It consists of a column embraced at its lower level by two Tritons holding the shield of Madrid and at its highest level by children sustaining a circular basin. The fountain is made mostly of limestone and granite. Another identical monument can be found in the city of Madrid on Plaza del Emperador Carlos V.

Located on Avenida de Cuba in El Retiro is the exclusive Fountain of the Fallen Angel. It is the only statue in the world depicting Lucifer, the fallen angel that is frequently interpreted as Satan. Ricardo Bellver, the statue's creator, obtained the First Medal at the National Fine Arts Exhibition for his creation. After some time, the Prado Museum installed the masterpiece in a square in Buen Retiro Park. It is considered a select art work, expressing great dramatism and originality.

La Rosaleda is a lovely rose garden in the south of the Buen Retiro Park on Paseo de Uruguay. Established in 1915, it was designed after the 'Rosaleda de Bagatelle' garden in Paris and emphasizes a wide variety of roses brought from the most famous gardens in Europe. This area of the park is regularly maintained and manicured to keep up its romantic appeal.

When you are in Madrid, don’t miss a visit to the Palacio de Cristal, which you will find in the Buen Retiro Park, the most popular park in the city.

The Crystal Palace was closely modeled on the building of the same name in London. It was constructed by the architect Ricardo Velazquez Bosco in 1887. The structure, mostly of glass set in an iron framework on a brick base, is in the form of the Greek cross. It is two-tiered and has a large central dome.

The palace was built to hold an exposition of local fauna and flora from the Philippines. Today the Museo Reina Sofia uses it for temporary exhibitions of contemporary art; it is also used for a yearly exhibition of birds.

This lovely, fragile-looking palace stands in front of a small lake, where you can hire a rowing boat and pay a visit to the ducks, geese and swans that live around the lake. You might also see some terrapins, as a lot of people release their pets into the lake when they have grown too big for their aquarium. The park managers discourage this practice as the terrapins upset the eco-system of the lake.

In Madrid there are many “palaces” and the most beautiful is undoubtedly the Palacio de Velazquez situated in Buen Retiro Park.

This graceful building was constructed in 1883 by Ricardo Velazquez Bosco, with the collaboration of the engineer Alberto del Palacio and the ceramist Daniel Zuloago. The structure is of two-tone brick with a delicate frieze of ceramic around the building and arches. Ricardo was inspired by a visit to the Crystal Palace in London and the roof of his palace is a long dome of iron and glass, allowing a maximum of light to enter the rooms. There is a short flight of white marble steps leading to the main entrance.

The palace was originally built to house the National Mining Exhibition of 1883. This exhibition included displays of mining equipment, metallurgy and minerals, and included demonstrations of glass blowing. At the end of the exhibition, the building remained empty for some years while the government decided whether or not to turn it into a museum for overseas artifacts. It was eventually taken over by the Ministry of Culture, who did some light restorations before hiring it out for various exhibitions.

Today you can visit one of the many temporary exhibitions of contemporary art put on by the Museo Reina Sofia. The good news is that the entry is free.

Buen Retiro Park boasts many historic gardens and well-preserved natural areas, but there is also a new addition known as the Gardens of Cecilio Rodriguez. This area, named after the famous Spanish gardner Rodriguez, is situated on the eastern part of the Buen Retiro Park, and adds a bit of modern flair with its newer sculptures, fountains and greenery.

On the eastern shore of the Retiro Pond (Estanque del Retiro) stands the tribute monument of Alfonso XII of Spain. The statue depicts the king on horseback and is constructed of bronze and stone. The back of the monument is covered by a semicircular colonnade, making the statue a popular site for visitors to learn Spanish history.

Casita del Pescador is a small cottage surrounded by water and greenery. It stands on a small island in the middle of an artificial pond and was built by King Ferdinand VII as part of a private garden. It can be found in the northeast corner of the park.