The Gardens of the Pleasant Retreat are quite an old facility, dating back to the early 17th Century, in particular the 1630s and 40s, when the decision that the Buen Retiro Castle should be constructed was made. Responsible for this initiative was the Conde-Duque de Olivares, who recreated the court for Felipe IV not far from Madrid (at this time outside the real city) located in a delightful and peaceful wooded area measuring the impressive 145 hectares, of which today about 118 hectares are left. Under the direction of architects Giovanni Battista Crescenzi and Alonso Carbonell, diverse buildings were constructed, among them the complex’s theatre, the old Dance hall and the Museum of the Army that are profusely decorated with paintings by such great artists as Velázquez and Zurbarán, which are still in a good condition today.

Throughout its history there were many modifications that changed the appearance of the garden, such as the Parterre designed during the reign of Felipe V or the Astronomic observatory, which was the work of Juan de Villanueva, during the reign of Carlos IV. King Carlos III was the first to allow access of citizens to the enclosure upon the condition that they enter well-dressed. During the French invasion at the beginning of the 19th Century, the gardens of Buen Retiro were destroyed partially to be used as a fortification by the troops of Napoleon. The palace was totally destroyed. After the War of Independence, Fernando VII had the gardens reconstructed and opened them restricting access to citizens. However, the King reserved some of the space for individual usage, but after the Great Revolution of 1868 the lands passed into the ownership of the Madrid municipality, so the Gardens became public. At this time, in the bare field that was left after all the damage made by the French army, new constructions were built - some of the Retiro’s greatest sights - the Crystal Palace, the Palace of Velasquez and the elaborate fountains of the Galapagos, Artichoke and the Fallen Angel. The last garden landscaper who put his mark on the glorious Garden of Pleasant Retreat was Cecilio Rodriguez who designed the Rosaleda
The Gardens of the Pleasant Retreat contain many interesting and delightful things to see and enjoy such as the Pool, where boating is not only allowed but even one of the most beloved activities on a hot Madrid afternoon. Moreover, around this very pool there are almost year-round street theatre performances and music shows. Proof that Buen Retiro Park is a living green space comes from the fact that the two of the most renowned buildings are on its premises: the two palaces which sometimes house different art exhibitions. Visiting this island of green in the middle of an asphalt sea, one has the opportunity to rest under the shade of more than 15,000 trees and see many other natural species either at the Rosary, or at the Artificial Hill (also one of the park’s attractions), or at the other lofty constructions nearby. The large collection of sculptures, the fine Gates and the fountains are also worth seeing.