And now taken you closer to the Manzanares river and mostly off the beaten path of my beloved Madrid. It is far from the center and best on foot as we did. Lovely area with many cultural and sporting activities for the whole family. Something different in Madrid. In fact ,came searching for Madrid Rio (see post) and end up finding this gem. There is another crystal palace in Madrid, guest where? However, this one is unique and glad found it!! You never know about Madrid! Let me tell you a bit about the Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela !
The Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela or Crystal Palace is located on the premises of what was once part of the Municipal Slaughterhouse of Arganzuela and has an area of 7,100 m². It was popularly known as the Nave de Patatas or potato warehouse, and its large rectangular structure of steel profiles are preserved, which is used as a botanical museum with plants from various parts of the world. It is located on Paseo de la Chopera, next to the Manzanares River, the municipal slaughterhouse was built between 1908 and 1924 as Slaughterhouse and Municipal Cattle Market.
This museum greenhouse part has four closed areas creating four microclimates. Two of them house the most characteristic plants of the tropical climate, other those of the subtropical climate and the remaining one houses cacti and all the species related to the desert climate. All this exotic landscape is also surrounded by small fountains. Closed as a slaughterhouse in the early 80s, it currently houses various cultural units of the City of Madrid, as well as the headquarters of the Municipal Board of the District of Arganzuela.
In 1992 the conversion of the Nave de Patatas or potato warehouse was carried out. The Palacio de Cristal de Arganzuela opens on December 21, 1992. The palace is free to visit and its exterior is surrounded by gardens and swings.
The Crystal Palace Greenhouse, houses 9 000 species of plants that are presented in four perfectly differentiated biotopes, each with a different microclimate, housing four different kinds of plants: Tropical flora, Subtropical flora, Crass and cacti plants and Plants of cruise and water. But not only can you enjoy its many plants but the Greenhouse also houses fountains and waterfalls populated with fish and birds.
Next to the greenhouse until 2008 there was a Dalieda (outdoor garden dedicated only to dahlias, and the collection had more than three hundred varieties with about 3,000 copies), this space since 2012 and after the works of reconditioning of the environment with the Manzanares riverbank park (Madrid Rio), it has been reconditioned as an asphalted area for roller skating. Specimens of dahlias that were cultivated were distributed between the Real Jardines Botanico or Royal Botanical Garden and the Dalieda of San Francisco. A peculiar park is known as “Las vistillas”, as is in the highest area of Madrid of the Austria’s area, near Church San Francisco el Grande (see post) and the views are privileged to the city. Address: Gran Vía de San Francisco, 29).
The Madrid tourist office on the Arganzuela palace greenhouse: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/invernadero-del-palacio-de-cristal-de-arganzuela
Again my long link sorry of the City of Madrid on the Palacio de Arganzuela: https://www.madrid.es/portales/munimadrid/es/Inicio/El-Ayuntamiento/Parques-y-jardines/Patrimonio-Verde/Parques-en-Madrid/Palacio-de-Cristal-de-la-Arganzuela-Invernadero/?vgnextfmt=default&vgnextoid=7d855cf8438de210VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=38bb1914e7d4e210VgnVCM1000000b205a0aRCRD
There you go folks, another off the beaten path of my dear Madrid. Hope you enjoy this Palacio de Cristal of Arganzuela in my beloved Madrid; nice different and in up and coming popular area of Madrid.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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