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Tourist Attractions in Aranjuez, Spain

Aranjuez, Spain.

Aranjuez, also called the Royal Estate of Aranjuez, is a city and municipality, capital of the Las Vegas district, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 42 kilometres (26 mi) south of Madrid, and 44 kilometres (27 mi) from Toledo.

It has been one of the Royal Estates of the Crown of Spain since the times of Philip II in 1560. Until 1752, only the royalty and nobility were allowed to dwell in the town.

Royal Site

• Royal Palace of Aranjuez dates from the 18th century. Some of the famous rooms are: The Porcelain Study, Throne Room, Jardin de la Isla attached formal gardens, Plaza Eliptica oval grassed park, with three radiating walkways with shady trees leading towards the festival ground near the railway station and one of the exterior facades of the Palace, the Gardens surrounding the Palace.

Royal Palace of Aranjuez.

• Chiquitren - tourist road-train which visits:

— Jardin de la Isla - formal gardens adjoining the palace
— Jardin del Principe - an extensive riverside park with many features, including
— Botanical Gardens
— Chinese Garden
— Real Casa del Labrador
— Museo de Falúas Reales - Royal Barge Collection

Jardin del Principe.

Within Aranjuez, there are many sculptures and architectural gems - because the town was created by royalty and only royal servants were permitted, the vernacular buildings tend to be of one design in the tightly packed centre, interspersed with noble palaces and grand military installations along the boulevards.

Worth visiting are the newly restored railway station and Carlos III theatre, the Queen's stable, now adapted as the municipal cultural centre, the central Abastos market and (ruined) Carlos municipal (plague) hospital. Saturdays there is a substantial open air market for food and clothing in Calle Valeras, which faces the Royal Palace.

• Mariblanca - a large sandy square properly called Plaza San Antonio afte the Royal chapel at the end. This was the first extension beyond the Royal Palace, along the south bank of the river Tagus (Local spelling Tajo). The royal Church of San Antonio which was built by Philip IV of Spain for both public and ceremonial royal use, stands at the southern end of Plaza.

Church of San Antonio.

Old Town

• Plaza de la Constitución: Town hall (casa de los empleados) and central covered market Abastos

Plaza de la Constitución.

• Bull Ring The first Plaza de Toros built in Spain. The original was built in 1760 by order of King Charles IV, the refurbished structure was opened by his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma, on 14 May 1797. Following a fire in 1809, King Ferdinand VII had it rebuilt and donated it to the town, which installed a small museum (usually only open to the public Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings at 11:15.

Plaza de Toros.

• Palacios Principe de La Paz - the rogue royal favourite who provoked the mutiny of Aranjuez for consorting with Napoleon - near the palace (now a 4* hotel) and also in Calle Principe - now Colegeo de la Sacrada Familia - in front of which the mutiny is re-enacted).

Sights in the city include many buildings in addition to the 17th century Royal Palace and church mentioned above:

• House of Trades and Knights

House of Trades and Knights.

• House of Infantes and Atarfe

• Pleasure craft Museum

• Farmhand's House

• Alpajes Church

• Saint Pascual's Royal Convent

Saint Pascual's Royal Convent.

• Old Saint Charles' Hospital

• Charles III's Royal Theatre (recently restored and reopened in 2014)

• Supply Market

• Medinaceli Palace

Medinaceli Palace.

• Governor's House (currently University of High Studies Centre Philip II)

• Mother Queen's old garage, today cultural centre "Isabel de Farnesio"

• Typical 'corralas' (buildings with running balconies around a central courtyard)

• Godoy and Osuna Palaces

• Silvela's Palace (also known as Baviera's Palace)

Baviera's Palace.

• Royal Country Estate of Saint Isidro

Nearby

• Heurtas y Jardines Shady tree-lined walks in what used to be the kitchen gardens and orchards.

• Parque Talud Sur A newly constructed park on the south slope od La Montaña district, near Doce Calles

Parque Talud Sur.

• Parque Pozo de las Nieves, Aranjuez The Snow Well Park

Festivals

• Alfaranjuez In May – includes a Craft Fair with Folk Aranjuez Traditional Music Festival and a used vehicle fair.

• San Isidro Labrador day, 15 May, pilgrimage in the nearby hunting lodge of Real Cortijo de San Isidro.

• San Fernando town festival week, around 30 May, parades and events.

• Early Music Festival Aranjuez, held in about May or June

• Book Fair Aranjuez, in contrast with the Used Book Fair and Sale, held in September.

• Mutiny of Aranjuez re-enactment about first week of September, declared a cultural event of National Tourist Interest, which includes: a funfair (car park, M-305), sports events (Delete stadium), food and drink stalls (Mariblanca), a concert at the Royal Palace, a traditional or Sacrificio Goyesque (in the Plaza de Toros), a dramatic street re-enactment of the flaming torch attack and capture of Godoy at his Palace, (that building now houses a school) with fireworks and costumes inspired by Goya paintings, and a fun raft-race organized by the pirates of the Tajo social club. (Wikivoyage, Wikipedia)

Tourist Attractions in Aranjuez, Spain

Royal Site

Old Town

Nearby

Festivals

See also Aranjuez in Pictures

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