El Prado and El Retiro information - Madrid places of interest - Spain
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MADRID Information: SALON DEL PRADO AND RETIRO |
| The present day Prado Avenue dates back to the 16th century, when it was called the Prado de San Jeronimo because it was close to the monastery of San Jeronimo el Real. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the building of the Buen Retiro Palace made it into the most popular place for leisure, walks and love trysts for the kings, aristocracy and even for the people of Madrid, following strict rules of etiquette and timetable. The housing project of the Salon del Prado was one of Carlos III's most important town planning schemes, and turned it into the undoubted artistic and cultural centre of the city. All that remains of the Mayor-King's town planning project are the Apollo, Neptune and Cibeles fountains, the Prado Museum building and the Botanical Gardens.  The Retiro Park is popular today, but was originally the garden of the Buen Retiro Palace, built by Felipe IV, on the insistence of his favourite, the Conde Duque de Olivares, to get him away from the fullnes of the Alcazar and the government. During the 17th century, the Buen Retiro Palace and gardens were the scene of magnificent parties and celebrations of the Royal Court.  It fell into disuse with the Bourbons and was practically destroyed after it was used as a small fort during the Napoleonic invasion. The gardens remained as the king's private gardens until well into the 19th century. The only parts of the palace linking it to the Court that remain today are the State Room (Salon de Reinos - now the Army Museum) and the Ball Room (Salon de Baile or Cason del Buen Retiro - now an annexe to the Prado Museum). 
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