In the town of Aranjuez, 47 kilometres from Madrid, in the southern region of the Autonomous Community with the same name.
Baroque in style, this Palace was built in various stages, as can be seen on its main façade, which is composed of different parts that were built over a period of two centuries. It consists of over 300 buildings, in which Colmenar stone and shiny red brick are alternated.
Its instigators
Aranjuez was designated a Royal Site by the Catholic Monarchs, who made it a retreat. Although Carlos V spent extended periods there, it was Phillip II that made Aranjuez a permanent place of residence for the Royal Family, issuing various by-laws in which it was stated that only the servants of the King that were destined there could live at the Royal Site. He also ordered that a new, larger palace be built, which was subsequently destroyed during the reign of Ferdinand VI.
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In the 18th century, the Borbón dynasty embellished the ensemble, extending the Royal Palace, completing the Prince's Garden and building the Casa del Labrador (Peasant's House).
Its architects
Four architects took part in the project over time: Juan Bautista de Toledo, Juan de Herrera, Santiago Bonavía and Francisco Sabatini.
The building
The origin of this building is the modest palace commissioned in 1387 by Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, Grand Master of the Military Order of Santiago. Later on, Phillip II commissioned the construction of a new palace at this location, an original project by the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo. As it was intended to be a country residence where the monarch could rest, he designed a very open palace isolated from the exterior by a series of "closed gardens".
Juan de Herrera, a disciple of the first architect and responsible for continuing the first project, carried out several extensions and variations, lending his personal hallmark to a building that was totally destroyed after three fires during the following two centuries.
Subsequent restoration gave it its current appearance, with the highlights being the main façade and a five-arch portico on which a beautiful balcony sculpted from Colmenar stone rests. During the reign of Carlos III, the architect Sabatini added two new wings and a spacious arms courtyard.
Main rooms
Staircase
Made by Giacomo Bonavia during the reign of Phillip V, it has a black and gold Rococo balustrade, with a beautiful monumental chandelier made of golden bronze and crystal hanging from the ceiling.
Queen's Guards' Room
This is the first room that one enters when starting the tour of the palace. This is where the Corps Guards, whose mission was to protect the Queen, stayed.
Royal chapel
Creation by Sabatini. It is decorated with important works, such as Maella's "Immaculate Conception" or Bayeu's fresco depicting Our Lady and the Evangelists.
Porcelain room
Built between 1759 and 1765, it was created by Italian artists under orders from King Carlos III. The room is fully covered in porcelain tiles from the Buen Retiro porcelain factory in Madrid. The background is white, adorned with garlands and reliefs depicting Chinese scenes and exotic themes.
Throne Room
The entire room is upholstered in velvet and furnished with elements in the Rococo style. The highlight on the ceiling is a painting representing an allegory of Monarchy. It was in this room that King Carlos IV abdicated following the mutiny organised by his son Ferdinand VI.
To visit the place from Madrid you can take the train to Aranjuez www.renfe.es
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