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Attractions & Activities - Malaga - El Retiro

Malaga El Retiro

Subtropical Gardens (Málaga)
Founded by Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás, Bishop of Málaga from 1664 to 1692, on a piece of land near Churriana, and from where there is a beautiful view over the whole fertile plains of the Guadalhorce river, is undoubtedly, the most important work of José Martín de Aldehuela.

After the death of the Bishop, the property of the gardens were transferred to the counts of Villacazar, who, through different and continuous enlargements made of it the most important private garden in Spain.

It has three different parts and styles; the gardens, the orchard, the patio and the courtyard.

The orchard garden is the only remain of the XVII century. It consist of a parade forming a cross surrounded by fruit trees, in the middle of the cross there is a fountain decorated with Sevillian tiles and known as "Fuente de la Batalla"

The patio garden is adjacent to the building and it is formed by a large rectangular surface on one only level and totally paved with red earthenware tiles (nazaries). In the middle of it, the fountain of "La Sirena", made of Italian marble and worked in Italy, and which motif is a triton embracing a mermaid.
The courtyard is organised at the Italian style, in different levels. It has three full-size figures, two of them representing the rivers or streams and from the pitchers they hold pours out the water from the upper pond. The third figure is a shepherd playing his flute and escorted by his dog. The three figures were carved by the malaguenian sculptor, Juan Chaez. Many trees and tropical plants completed this garden.

At the moment, besides the botanical richness of the garden, a fabulous collection of all kind of birds have been added, making the Park not only a botanical curiosity, but ornithological as well.