- Address: Address: Paseo República de Cuba, 4, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- Phone: +34 917 74 10 00
In the most important park of Madrid Buen Retiro in the center of the city you can discover the smallest palace: Palacio de cristal (Crystal Palace). An interesting architectural structure was built as an exhibition pavilion without special technologies from glass and metal in the distant 1887. Note that at present it is the only such historical monument of architecture in the country.
The Crystal Palace of Spain (Palacio de cristal) - historical information
The Crystal Palace was designed and built in Madrid by the famous architect of the time Riccardo Velasquez Bosco to display exotic plants of the Philippine Islands. He was so inspired by the London Crystal Palace, which was built in 1851. to the first international exhibition that he managed to build his pavilion in just 5 months. In the nineteenth century, the colonies quickly gained independence one after another, and Spain, like England, needed new resources to demonstrate its greatness, which were originally found in holding multinational world-class meetings.
About the most important
Palacio de cristal is a very unusual and beautiful building. Near it was a small living pond for water plants, in which a stone staircase descends from the pavilion. From the water, high marsh cypresses grow, their roots completely hidden under water. A cute fountain blows from the water with a high stream, and on the shore for romantic photographs you can find a mini-waterfall. The pond has become the home of several generations of black and white swans, ducks and even turtles. Part of the palace is still used as a greenhouse. The plant collection consists of 4 groups of microclimate, for each specially equipped separate room with the right temperature.
The Spanish Crystal Palace is a unique building of its time, combining for the first time modern materials for non-industrial purposes. The palace stands on a stone foundation, decorated with bricks and ceramic tiles. On top of the foundation is a metal frame made of salted iron and glass. The unique three-tiered building fascinates any passer-by with its unusual appearance.
The palace is especially beautiful on a clear sunny day, when you can watch the play of light through the dome and the walls of a glass building and colorful rainbow overflows. For the visitors inside the pavilion there are rocking chairs, so that everyone could enjoy the sunshine unhurriedly.
Since 2006, in the pavilion part, an original installation of the Korean artist Kimsuji has been organized. She was able to paint the walls and the floor of the palace with delicate rainbow colors, placed mirrors on the floor, and wrapped the dome of the palace with a special film. A fascinating play of light is supplemented by a quiet sound.
| | | |
Currently, the Crystal Palace of Madrid is part of the Ministry of Culture of Italy, it periodically hosts various exhibitions (paintings of artists, birds shows, lotteries, etc.).
How to get to the Crystal Palace in Spain?
Park Buen Retiro is located in the heart of Madrid and, as its area is about 130 hectares, at the entrance it is recommended to buy a guide with indexes of all its sights. The entrance to the Crystal Palace, like the park itself, is free. You can visit it on any day except Tuesday. But we must take into account that on rainy days the palace is also closed.
You can get there by public transport :
- on the subway there are 9 lines;
- on buses Nos. 2, 20, 26, 61;
- by car, the coordinates are 40 ° 24'48 "N and 3 ° 40'55" W.
Opening hours: from 11: 00-20: 00.
Closed: 1 and 6 January, 1 and 15 May, 24, 25, 31 December.
Interesting Facts:
- On May 10, 1936, it was in the Crystal Palace that Manuel Assagna joined the presidency;
- the height of the palace's dome is just over 22 meters;
- according to the architect's concept, the construction is demountable, since the Palacio de cristal was built as a temporary structure;
- the architect believed that the houses of the future will look like the Crystal Palace of Madrid.
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
