Aranjuez

The Palacio Real de Aranjuez is a residence of the King of Spain, one of the Spanish royal sites. It is located in Aranjuez (province of Madrid).

It was commissioned by Philip II and designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, who also designed El Escorial. It was completed during the reign of Ferdinand VI; Charles III had two wings added to it. A smaller palace, the Casa del Labrador, also stands on the grounds.

Its huge gardens, built to relieve its royal residents from the dust and drought of the Spanish meseta using the waters of the adjacent Tagus and Jarama rivers, are Spain's most important of the Habsburg period. The Jardin de la Isla is on a man-made island bounded by the River Tagus and the Ria Canal.


Year Decision Comments
2001 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

John Booth (New Zealand):
Like Phillip I visited Aranjuez on my first day in Europe. I found the palace's exterior disappointing as it was clad in scaffolding. But the gardens were extensive and very well maintained, with much statuary and stone ornamentation, especially in the Jardin de la Isla and amongst the roses of the more formal Jardin del Parterre. But the huge Jardin del Principe was more forested, intersected by long straight driveways. Outside the gate to this garden I found a bus (L2) that took me back to the station, saving a long walk.
Date posted: March 2010
Philip T.K. (Canada):
I visited the royal palace at Aranjuez on my first day in Spain after an overnight flight from Montreal to Madrid. It was my first WHS in Europe. The train ride from Madrid to Aranjuez was less than an hour and it makes a perfect half-day trip from Madrid. The palace has many rooms; the one that stands out the most in my memory is the Alhambra-inspired one. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed inside. However, they are allowed at the gorgeous garden nearby. The palace is no comparison to similar sites I visited later on my trip such as El Escorial but it's worth an afternoon nonetheless. I would suggest visiting this site first before the other WHS near Madrid in order to evade disappointment.
 


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