Another showcase in the El Retiro Park is the cast-iron and glass pavilion, ‘Palacio de Cristal’ (Crystal Palace) and the black swans that live on its pond.
Palacio de Cristal
The story behind the building of this most exquisite building in Retiro Park brings me closer to home—the Philippines.
The Crystal Palace was commissioned in 1887 for the Philippine Islands Exhibitions, to display exotic flower species indigenous to the islands. For those that do not know, the Philippines was under the Spanish Inquisition for a century. That is why the Philippines is named the Philippines, after King Philip. The Philippines declared independence on 12 June 1898, just 11 years after the Crystal Palace was constructed.
Designed by architect Ricardo Velasquez Bosco, the Crystal Palace was inspired from the Crystal Palace in London which was destroyed in 1936. I saw the old fotos of the Crystal Palace in London and it was breath-taking. London lost something of value and substance.
Here is a FLASHBACK 6.5 years ago:
Moi with the black swans. Pre-digital age, taken with a roll film camera, developed and printed out. February 2005. This is not a scanned picture, I just shot a picture of this picture with my digital camera =)
Alright, it is now time to go to Atocha Train Station to board the train to Toledo!
Travel Period: June 2011
Destination: Madrid, Spain
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)