The Crystal Palace is located in the Retiro Park, one of the largest parks of Madrid, Spain. The Palacio de Cristal was designed by Ricardo Velazques in 1887 in the shape of a Greek cross, constructed of glass and iron. It was created to be used as a hothouse during an exhibitions of exotic plants and flowers from the Philippines and other Spain’s colonies. Outside the palace there is a lake with ducks, geese, turtles and even black swans.