Sunset in the Retiro Park in Madrid. Coffee Mug

Sunset in the Retiro Park in Madrid. Travel, Europe, Spain, Madrid, cityscape, sights, gift, art, "Retiro Park", sunset Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain, the largest economic, political and cultural centre of the country. The city is located in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. A large transport junction (iron, highways, one of the world's largest airports). Madrid is an influential cultural centre in which many international museums are located, including the Museo del Prado, the Queen Sofia Art Centre, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Madrid Forum, which are among the 100 most visited museums in the world. Archaeological excavations on the banks prove that the appearance of a man in the vicinity of Madrid belongs to the era of the Lower Paleolithic (about 100 thousand years ago). However, the mention of Madrid as a city appears much later. It is believed that the city was founded by Emir of Cordoba Mohammed I to protect the approaches to Toledo. The city grew up around the fortress of Magirit, the first mention of which dates back to 932. The fortress "alcasba" was built, separated from residential quarters - "medina". During the Reconquista, in 1085 Madrid was conquered by King Alfonso VI. Retiro is the largest and most famous park of the city of Madrid, located between Alkala Street, Mendes-i-Pelayo Avenue and Alfonso XII Street. The park with the palace of the same name in the past was part of the residence of the Habsburgs. Earlier on the site of the park there was a monastery of the monks of the Order of St. Jerome. Philip IV and his successors loved to retire and rest in this place. Hence the name of Buen Retiro (former Buen Retiro) - "good solitude". After the construction of the royal palace under Charles III, the park ensemble fell into decay. In 1868 the park was transferred to the municipal government, after which it became one of the favourite places of rest for the townspeople. In the park there is the memorial of King Alfonso XII, two pavilions of the work of the famous architect of the 19th century Velasquez - the Crystal Palace of Glass and the Velasquez brick palace.