El Retiro in Churriana, Málaga, it is a hidden jewel

According to Gerald Brenan “El Retiro” was a large country seat (Brenan, 1974). It is almost 350 years old. It was built in 1669 by an illegitimate son of Philip IV (King of Spain) and a Dominican friar, Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás, who became bishop of Málaga.  The state was popularly called "El Retiro" because it was used as a place of spiritual retreat by Dominican friars. It lays half way between Churriana and Alhaurín de la Torre and it spans 160,000 m2.

The house had an ornamental garden. After Fray Alonso's death, the property was transferred to the counts of Buenavista (XVIII) and Villalcázar later (XIX), who through different and continuous enlargements made of it the most important private garden in Spain. The grounds are renowned for their rare juxtaposition of French, English, Italian and Moroccan styles, and breath-taking views of the coast, the mountains, countryside and the city skyline.

 Imagen http://malagamonumental.blogspot.com.es/2015/01/peticion-la-junta-de-andalucia-para-que.html

                                                                          

In 1984, El Retiro was declared a National Historic Monument. One of the most famous aspects of the gardens is “El Olmo”, a 200-year-old elm tree, the oldest piece of flora within the estate, as well as some 30,000 palm, cypress, magnolia, and fruit trees which can be seen within the vast grounds. The gardens are divided into three separate sections: El Huerto, El Patio and Jardín Cortesano.

Imagen https://www.hispanianostra.org/patrimonio/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/12.-RafaelBlanco-El-Retiro-de-Churriana.pdf

JARDÍN DEL HUERTO

The Orchard´s Garden is the oldest of the three gardens, it has been conserved since the estate was built in 1669. It is set out in the shape of a cross surrounded by fruit trees (including avocadoes), in the middle of the cross there is a fountain decorated with tiles from Seville, called "Fuente de la Batalla".

EL JARDÍN DE LA SIRENA

The Patio o Mermaid´s Garden is located next to the palatial house and formed by a large surface on one only level and totally paved with red tiles. It has a rectangular shape and in the centre there is a fountain made of Italian marble, the motif is a triton embracing a mermaid, called "La Sirena".

JARDÍN CORTESANO

The Courtier´s Garden is organised at the Italian style with three full-size figures, two of them representing the rivers or streams and the third figure is a shepherd playing his flute and escorted by his dog. The three figures were carved by Juan Chaez, a sculptor from Málaga.
Imágenes  https://www.hispanianostra.org/patrimonio/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/12.-RafaelBlanco-El-Retiro-de-Churriana.pdf



In 2005, El Retiro was an ornithological park, but it was closed in 2007. At this moment, the estate is in private ownership. Environmental campaigners and botanical experts are campaigning, as Rafael Blanco Almeda, for this protected garden to be open to the public again. 

Sources
Brenan, G. (1974).  Personal Record 1920-1972. London: Jonathan Cape.
Salazar Domínguez, C. (2007). Personajes en Churriana. Málaga: Ayuntamiento de Málaga (Junta de Distrito de Churriana).
https://www.hispanianostra.org/patrimonio/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/12.-RafaelBlanco-El-Retiro-de-Churriana.pdf