The Palacio de Cristal, or the Crystal Palace, is an exquisite glass and metal building constructed in 1887 to showcase flora and fauna from the Philippines, which was a Spanish colony at the time. Standing in the shape of the Greek Cross, the Crystal Palace is located in the middle of the Buen Retiro Park and now serves as a gallery for displaying contemporary art.

Surrounding the entrance of this exquisite architectural masterpiece lies an immense, photogenic artificial lake, filled with ducks, geese, black swans, and terrapins. A stroll through Retiro Park on a warm, sunny day couldn’t be more idyllic with sunlight streaming into its lovely glass cupolas. A visit to the beautiful Crystal Palace that glistens in the sunlight will not be complete, without a boat ride across the lake, where you get to capture the Palacio de Cristal in all of its glory.