Aranjuez

For centuries, the kings and queens of Spain have chosen to spend the spring months in the Palace of Aranjuez, situated in a low-lying meadow formed by the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama Rivers. Thanks to its vast, stunning gardens, Aranjuez was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in December 2001.

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez

In 1561, Philip II, echoing a previous plan drafted by his father emperor Charles V, ordered the old Aranjuez residence to be replaced with a new building which was the precursor of the present Royal Palace. In 1715, Philip V continued with the construction and built the entire structure that presently makes up the main body of the palace. Between 1660 and 1665, it was affected by serious fires and Fernando VI undertook its reconstruction. During the reign of Charles III two side wings, which make up the western part of the building, were added, thus reflecting the taste for French things at the time. Its decor combines Rococo, Elizabethan, Chinese and Moorish motifs. Its restoration was completed last year after ten years of building works.

The Gardens

The gardens that surround it were planned, built and decorated for centuries with the same refinement and care as the building of the Royal Palace. Using Versailles as a model, the idea was to control nature in order to turn the garden into yet another room of the palace. The Jardín de la Isla boasts extensive woodlands, grand avenues and numerous stone and marble fountains devoted to characters and scenes from Greek mythology. On the other side, lies the Jardín del Parterre, famous for its abundant and diverse display of flowers. The Jardín del Príncipe, the largest of all, features broad walkways and a great variety of species of trees (check times).

Continuing on to the end we come to the Casa del Labrador, one of the most splendid buildings of the Bourbon Dynasty. Very close to the jetty stands the Falúas Museum, where one can see the luxurious vessels which sailed on the Tagus and belonged to Charles IV, Ferdinand VII and Alfonso XII.

The Old Quarter

The Old Quarter of Aranjuez has been declared a Historic Artistic Monument as it is a unique example of Baroque town planning. Designed in 1747 by Giacomo Bonavia, from its very beginning it was set to be a noble area that would house buildings of a dignified construction. Its impressive houses with courtyards, domes, mansions, convents, balconies, squares and spacious streets are testimony of four centuries of history.

Aranjuez was inhabited by settlements in the Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age. The Romans also lived on these lands which, during the Moorish occupation, formed a strategically important frontier territory between the Moorish kingdom of Toledo and the kingdoms of the Crown of Castile.

The municipality has boasted the title of Royal Site since the times of the Catholic Monarchs, but it was the Bourbons, who were really responsible for giving Aranjuez the final boost that would turn it into a court centre of monumental rank.

The town began to take on its present shape under the reign of Ferdinand VI, who ordered the drawing up of a plan for a new township. At the beginning of the 19^thcentury, Aranjuez witnessed the signing of the alliance treaty between Charles IV and Napoleon against England, a pact which the French emperor exploited in order to invade Spain with his troops.

Ferdinand VII, the son of Charles IV, rose up against his father's government leading to the Mutiny of Aranjuez in March 1808 (Charles IV abdicated and Manuel Godoy was imprisoned).

On January 2nd 1835, the Town Council of Aranjuez was finally established with José Ignacio de Ibarrola as its first mayor. In 1899, it received the title of Town and in 1940, the maestro Joaquín Rodrigo first performed his famous Concierto de Aranjuez, a musical composition for guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo written in 1939, a piece which has made the city's name known in the four corners of the world.  

The celebration of the patron saint's day takes place on May 30th and is held in honour of Saint Ferdinand. The townspeople fill the streets as they make their way to the traditional bull-runs, novilladas and bullfights. The Alfaranjuez, an interesting display of pottery and ceramics, also takes place at this time.

The September Fair dates back to the livestock fairs and festivals celebrated after the harvest and to the festivities which the monarchs organised for their enjoyment. During this period, the locals stage the famous Mutiny of Aranjuez, which has been declared a National Tourist Attraction. Another event held during this time is the extremely popular Pirate Descent of the River Tagus. For three kilometres, hundreds of locals sail down the Tagus in colourful and imaginative vessels drawing the cheers of the thousands of spectators who watch from the riverbank.

Considered the great festival of Aranjuez, the Festival Música Antigua Aranjuez takes place between the months of May and June. It is an event that hosts an attractive programme with a proposal of concerts suitable for all tastes.

The food of Aranjuez relies heavily on the fruits of the earth and the hunting tradition of the monarchy. In the most time-honoured restaurants we can still find those same dishes which delighted kings and nobles. Asparagus, the famous strawberries, tomatoes, lettuces, brussels sprouts and pheasant are some of the food which has made the riverside kitchens famous. Also worth a mention are the gangos, restaurants on the banks of the Tagus where you can savour salads, omelettes and rabbit with garlic. One of the restaurants where you can find the typical specialities of Aranjuez is El Rana Verde, which includes asparagus, pheasant or frog legs on its menu, as well as the famous strawberries and other food. Other outstanding restaurants include Aguatinta, which offers meat, fish and seafood, and its patio-terrace has a vertical garden; or Casa José, a family-run restaurant focused on the vegetable world.

If you would like to purchase gastronomic products from the region, visit the specialised shops selling typical products.  This is the case of La Huerta de Aranjuez, specialised in Chilean strawberries, strawberries, artichokes and asparagus grown in the region and which has its own farm in Vega de Aranjuez.

• By Car: 40 minutes via the A-4 (Andalusia Motorway)

• By Coach: 40 minutes from Estación Sur Coach Station (Méndez Álvaro).

• By Train: 40 minutes on the Cercanías commuter train from Atocha Station and on the Strawberry Train that travels the route between Madrid and Aranjuez, recreating the first rail trip of the Community of Madrid.

For further information: Real Sitio Council and Villa Aranjuez

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