Palacio de Cristal in Retiro (Madrid)

The Palacio de Cristal in Madrid's Retiro Park is a stunning 19th-century pavilion. Inspired by London's Crystal Palace, it was built almost entirely of glass and iron on a brick base adorned with beautiful ceramic friezes, and serves as an exhibition space for the Museo Reina Sofía. It was originally constructed in 1887 to showcase exotic tropical plants and flowers from the Philippines, which was a Spanish colony at the time. Thanks to its prefabricated iron and glass design, the entire structure was assembled in just five months.