In the mid-17th century, King Philip IV (1605-1665) commissioned the creation of a garden, a place where he could retire in soothing isolation. In fact, Retiro means retreat in Spanish! In 1767 the park became a favorite hangout destination for the royal family’s closest friends and people in Madrid would wander in the surrounding area to catch a glimpse of the VIP guests frequenting El Retiro. The area became accessible to ordinary citizens in 1868 when it became the property of the municipality of Madrid and until today it is a popular hangout spot for the locals, especially the pond in front of the impressive monument dedicated to King Alfonso XII, which was inaugurated in 1922. You can rent a boat and soak up the sun or chill listening to the various street musicians performing close to the steps of the monument.