Aranjuez

About

The area was acquired by the Order of Santiago in 1178, but Aranjuez didn't rise to prominence until the 15th century when it was made a royal site by Ferdinand and Isabella. In the 16th century, King Philip II ordered the construction of the royal palace. The town was reserved solely for nobility until the 18th century, when it was extensively redesigned. Today, Aranjuez offers visitors a wealth of beauty and history to explore. A walk through the Royal Palace is an opulent experience, combining Rococo, Elizabethan, Chinese and Moorish decor. The surrounding gardens were modeled on Versailles, and are filled with flowers, trees, fountains galore, and the splendid Casa del Labrador, all of which have transformed nature into another room of the palace. The city’s Old Quarter is an Artistic Monument in its own right that's well-worth exploring for its Baroque town planning and noble architecture.