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 took 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 ,and maybe a second Madrid , I know ,there are many wonderful monuments and great museums people go to, but for me this is it. Do read my several posts on it in my blog, If can only have time for one thing would be to come to the Retiro park. Therefore, here is my take on the gates of the Retiro park of Madrid, part II !!! Hope you enjoy it as I
Walking 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).
We will see, then, that the street divides in two; At that point, we will take Calle O’Donnell, leaving Calle de Alcalá on our left. There we have the Puerta de Madrid, one of the entrances, next to the Puerta del Ángel Caído, which gives access to the Paseo del Duque Fernán Núñez, better known this section as Paseo de Carruaje. It was designed in the last third of the 19C. Also, the longest in the Retiro park (the Promenade).
This time I took my sons to two which have barely touch base before, The first one was the Puerta del Doce de Octubre, (October 12 discovery of the new America) in front of the street of the same name, is one of the entrances to the Cecilio Rodríguez Gardens. Cecilio Rodríguez Cuevas, a native of Valladolid, entered the Madrid City Council as an apprentice gardener when he was 8 years old and ended his professional life as Director of the Department of Parks and Gardens of the same city council. In 1914, he was appointed Senior Gardener of the Retiro park, one of his best works being the Rose Garden of the park.(Rosaleda)!
And we kept walking on Avenida Menendez Pelayo to see the Puerta de Sainz de Baranda, in front of the street of the same name. The previously called Calle del Límite received the name of Mayor Sainz de Baranda in memory of Don Pedro Sáinz de Baranda, the first constitutional mayor of Madrid (previously they had the name of Corregidores) after the proclamation of the Cadiz Constitution of 1812. And aka as La Pepa was the first Constitution of Spain ,and one of the earliest constitutions in world history. Also, the first Spanish legislature that included delegates from the entire nation, including Spanish America and the Philippines. For a long while this was my entry point into the park coming from my hotel.
The Puerta de Dante, dedicated, as its name suggests, to Dante Alighieri, writer, among other works, of the well-known Divine Comedy. The Dante’s gate is located on avenida Menéndez Pelayo in front of Calle Conde de Cartagena, It was designed in 1969, later, in 1980, Dante’s bas -relief was installed in it that gave it the current name. The construction of this access meant the disappearance of the Puerta del Pacifico, close to this and dating from 1935. The Puerta de Dante is made up of two faces faced, with a simple metal fence each and located on a platform in high, to which which It is reached from the sidewalk by two transverse stairs. From these accesses, two ramps leave that enable the entrance to the Retiro park in its southern part. It also consists of a bronze mural placed between the two openings, dedicated to Dante Alighieri, which gives name to this door
The Madrid tourist office on the Retiro park : https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/parque-del-retiro
The city of Madrid with a detail map of Retiro park in pdf file good for printing and take along : https://www.madrid.es/UnidadesDescentralizadas/ZonasVerdes/Parques/Retiro/2021/Plano%20con%20puertas%20y%20viales.%20Jardines%20El%20Buen%20Retiro.pdf
There you go folks, a best detail description of the Puertas or gates of the Parque del Buen Retiro or Retiro park of my beloved Madrid. Again, hope you 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 !!!
