🏛️LandmarkOpen now · Closes 10:00 PMFree

Monument to Alfonso XII

Name: Monument to Alfonso XII
Rating: 4.7

4.7 ·

Visit the Monument to Alfonso XII, the grand colonnade beside Retiro Park's lake. Photograph it from the steps, or take a rowing boat out for the view from the water.

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Full description

Built in 1922, the monument to King Alfonso XII is a colonnade topped by an equestrian statue, standing at the edge of the large boating lake in Buen Retiro Park. It is one of the park's best-known sights and a popular spot for photos.

A reviewer notes that seeing it from a rowing boat on the lake gives a quieter, more peaceful perspective than viewing it from the shore. The park is open from early morning until late evening, clean, and pet-friendly, making this an easy, pleasant stop.

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Address

Monumento Alfonso XII, Parque del Retiro, Pl. de la Independencia, s/n, Retiro, 28001 Madrid, Spain · Retiro

Website

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Hours

🎫

Booking

Walk-in

Duration

30 min

Best time

early morning, morning, afternoon or early evening

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Rent a rowing boat on the lake for a different view of the colonnade
arrive early or in the early evening for softer light and fewer people
the park is open roughly 6 am to 10 pm.

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Reviews

Seeing this monument from a rowing boat completely changes the experience. From the shore it feels monumental, but from the water it becomes surprisingly peaceful. One of those rare places where the city fades into the background for a while, even though you are right in the middle of Madrid.

Jean Kosse

2/5

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