Art Walk to the Retiro

The stops, in walking order

1. 1

   

   Stop 1: Edificio Villanueva

   ~3 min here

   Edificio Villanueva is the Museo del Prado’s principal building and its earliest site in chronological terms.

2. 2

   

   Stop 2: Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid

   ~3 min here

   The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid is a living scientific collection, entered from Plaza de Murillo beside the Prado Museum.

3. 3

   

   Stop 3: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

   ~1 hr here

   Reina Sofía is Spain’s national museum devoted to art of the twentieth century, and its most famous work is Picasso’s Guernica.

4. 4

   

   Stop 4: Palacio de Villahermosa

   ~3 min here

   Palacio de Villahermosa is the former mansion of the Dukes of Villahermosa, and it now houses the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

5. 5

   

   Stop 5: Puerta de Alcalá

   ~3 min here

   Puerta de Alcalá is the monumental gate you are seeing in Plaza de la Independencia, Madrid.

6. 6

   

   Stop 6: Parque del Retiro

   ~3 min here

   El Retiro is a historic public park, and its most unexpected feature is a fountain depicting Lucifer in his fall from heaven.

7. 7

   

   Stop 7: Palacio de Cristal

   ~3 min here

   Palacio de Cristal is the iron-and-glass pavilion before you, built as a greenhouse for Madrid’s Retiro Park.

More walks in Madrid

• HighlightsMadrid Essentials10 stops · ~1 hr 50 min · 4.9 kmSee the walk
• HighlightsMadrid Essentials: Sol to Plaza de la Villa in an Hour5 stops · ~35 min · 1.2 kmSee the walk
• Royal HeritageRoyal Madrid: Palaces, Convents and the Medieval Walls7 stops · ~1 hr 30 min · 3.3 kmSee the walk
• Food & DrinkTaverns, Chocolate and Convent Sweets6 stops · ~45 min · 2.2 kmSee the walk
• ArchitectureGrand Madrid: Cibeles, Alcalá and Dalí’s Dolmen6 stops · ~1 hr · 3.2 kmSee the walk
• Local LifeMalasaña and Chueca: Squares, Markets and Legends5 stops · ~55 min · 2.0 kmSee the walk
• Hidden GemsPalace Gardens and Goya’s Chapel4 stops · ~1 hr 50 min · 2.3 kmSee the walk