The Gates of the Retiro Park of Madrid, part II !!!

Posted in Madrid, Spain

I had to come back to the Retiro park, yes it was practically my backyard, not far from my piso or apartment when lived in Madrid and many times running, chasing,and eating , playing you name it in it. The park of my first loves, my youth, my adolescent my early days of free life in my beloved dear Madrid. Even here, my journey with what later became my wife started, my dear late wife Martine (our first trip out of France with her I had to take her to Madrid and the Retiro was grand ) she always loved to come back each year with me and then with the boys. I can say my life can be resume with one word, Retiro. This is Madrid at its best, yes I know ,there are many wonderful monuments and great museums people go to, but for me this is it. If can only have time for one thing would be to come to the Retiro park. And I did again just recently July 2023 !!!! Love it !!! Therefore, here is my take again on the Gates of the Retiro park of Madrid, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

It was home away from home and just love it enormously, can’t visit Madrid without been at the Parque del Buen Retiro! I have several posts in my blog because not only is my Madrid,but beautiful moments of my life; Retiro park, my Retiro, my Madrid!!  I have written on the Puertas or gates of my Retiro Park, but came back for more and will tell again on some of them, The Retiro Park has no less than 18 gates! Although the most popular may be the one in the Plaza de la Independencia ,next to the Puerta de Alcalá, it is not the main one. In fact, there is no gate that officially has that distinction.

By going on Calle de Alfonso XII, you have one of the most important gates in terms of design and history: the Puerta de Felipe IV or Mariana de Neoburgo. Its construction dates from 1680 and served as the entrance arch to the first wife of Carlos II, María Luisa de Orleáns. Later, in 1690, the sculptures on the sides of the arch were added, which correspond one to Mars and the other to Penelope. Mariana de Neoburgo, second wife of Charles II, entered the gate, and an inscription with her name was included on the gate’s under arch. Originally, the gate was located in what is now the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo (Neptune Fountain), since at that time El Retiro reached that area. In the middle of the 19C, it was the front of the disappeared Hermitage of San Juan, attached to the old palace and on whose site stands the Palacio de Comunicaciones/Cibeles, today the seat of the Madrid City Council. In 1922, it was installed in its current location, in front of the Casón del Buen Retiro and giving access to the Parterre of the park.

Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Felipe IV jul23
Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Felipe IV inside jul23
Continue walking along and just 200 meters away, along Calle de Alfonso XII connecting with Calle Antonio Maura is the Puerta de España, done in1893 ; giving way to the Paseo de Argentina, better known as Paseo de las Estatuas, a place that was previously occupied by the Plaza Grande of the old palace.It is made up of four columns and several entrances with barred doors that give access to the park. On the arch of the main door, we can see the republican coat of arms. If we enter through it, we will only have to go straight along the Paseo de las Estatuas to reach the pond.(Estanque).

Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Espana jul23

Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Espana inside jul23

This Puerta de Murillo , together with that of the Fallen Angel, was conceived without monumental features, given its service function, By Calle de Alfonso XII; there is the entrance: the Puerta de Murillo. Like other gates is an entrance that we could call service, formed simply by a lattice and that leads to La Chopera, an area named for the poplars that are around it and that, at present, houses municipal sports facilities.

Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Murillo jul23

Madrid Retiro park Puerta de Murillo entr jul23

The Madrid tourist office on the Retiro Park : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/parque-del-retiro

There you go folks, another fine visit to my memorable Retiro Park and my dear Madrid, This is a must to visit and understand more the history of my dear Madrid. The Puertas or gates of the Retiro Park is a stepping stone into history, architecture and good times in a lovely park.  Again, hope you have enjoy the post on the Gates of the Retiro park of Madrid, part II !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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