Aranjuez, an old royal retreat, is located just 40 minutes away from Madrid. The golden age for Aranjuez was in the Eighteenth century with the Bourbon family. A huge lover of French palaces, King Philip IV  decided to use Aranjuez as his home during spring until the arrival of summer and its royal legacy is today its main attraction.

Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is considered to be the main attraction of Aranjuez’s historical and cultural heritage. The visit starts in the Queen’s Guards Room, where the guards in charge of the safekeeping the royal family used to live, and it moves on to the Queen’s Room, where there are paintings by Lucas Jordán with mythological themes. Another must-see area is the Queen’s Chamber, which was transformed into a music room by Queen Isabella II. The tour continues to the Throne Room, the Queen’s Bedroom, the Dance Room and the King’s Bedroom, ending in the Mirror Room, the best-preserved room in the whole royal building.

However, it’s not only inside that is worth seeing because its gardens also deserve a special mention. The Parterre Gardens, built by order of King Philip V to the French gardener Esteban Boutelou in 1727, are stunning and don’t forget to visit the Fountain of Hercules and Antaeus, the most spectacular one in the whole garden; and the Statue Garden, made up of 14 marble busts of Roman emperors, Spanish kings and famous people from the ancient world.

Farmer’s House

This small palace, built by King Charles IV, is one of Europe’s most important Neoclassical monuments. Inside, you can see that its decoration still preserves unique original items such as glass lamps, clocks and porcelain objects. The itinerary includes the Pool Table Room, the Dance Room and the María Luisa Room.

Royal Barge Museum

Located near the dock, this museum is home to one of the most stunning royal barge collections in the world. Out of all of them, two models stand out: the barge of Charles IV, built in Cartagena and decorated by Salvador Maella; and the gondola of Philip V.

Recharge your batteries by sampling the best cuisine

There is nothing better to recharge your batteries than enjoying a refreshing beer, a glass of wine or a delicious tapa, all of which you can do next to the main tourist area. Enjoy the best local cuisine on Calle Postas, Abastos Market and Calle Stuart.

Aranjuez is a town which combines a fascinating historical heritage and the best cuisine from the Madrid region. If you still have not been there, what are you waiting for?

*Website photo: www.turismoenaranjuez.com

Texto original pone Felipe VI