Aranjuez, why it is one of the most visited towns in Madrid (and in Spain)

• Ranking Three Spanish towns, among the most touristic in the world in 2022

• Gastro Where are the street food stalls with a Michelin star?

The

the exuberant gardens, the maestro Joaquín Rodrigo, the citizen riot that bears his name, the spectacular Palace of the Royal Site... The offer of the

, located south of the region, which makes it difficult to choose.

Yes, the Spanish monarchs did it when, attracted by the benefits of

they chose this town located in the fertile plain of the Tagus as their place of residence to spend the spring.

It meant the start of the importance of the town in front of its neighbors.

Not surprisingly, this relevance continues today, since it is

the entire Community of Madrid and even in Spain.

The arrival here of the kings makes it logical, then, that we begin the tour of the place in the famous palace.

Once again, it was

who began its construction in the 16th century.

It took three centuries to complete, already under the reign of

The best thing to do is to take part in the official visit that, in a little less than an hour, will take you through places as incredible as the

the Gala Dining Room, the royal rooms and, above all, the Porcelain Cabinet, a unique piece that It is the masterpiece of the

.

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez.SHUTTERSTOCK

Around the Palace of what is officially cataloged as the

, the renowned gardens of Aranjuez stretch out, a reason for a visit on their own.

Felipe II's fondness for plants prompted him to hire the best European gardeners and architects, who

in a space of more than 111 hectares.

It houses the gardens of the Prince, the Island, the Parterre and Isabel II.

In 1551 the monarch promoted the creation of the

with an important representation of plants from the New World.

Between gardens and trains

The most careful and ornamental is that of the Parterre, located next to the palace.

It receives at its entrance the monumental

.

The garden of the Island was laid out in the Renaissance style.

Limited by the Tagus, its streets and avenues abound with statues and sources of mythological inspiration.

Neighboring the Parterre is

the quietest and smallest of the four gardens.

The

is the largest, more than 30 times larger than Madrid's El Retiro.

Its monarchs are the twenty unique trees included in the Regional Catalog of Threatened Species.

Bananas over 200 years old stand out.

One of them, the so-called

is the tallest tree in the Community of Madrid with more than 48 meters.

Interior of the Strawberry Train.C.

MADRID

Along with such an exceptional forest, the Jardines del Príncipe house buildings such as the

, the Chinese Garden, the royal jetty and the

unique in the world and where the storied boats used by kings for their walks around the world are preserved. the

.

A route would be missing in the mythical and already mentioned

which recalls the start-up of the

that linked the capital with the Royal Site of Aranjuez.

That first section of barely fifty kilometers was actually born looking for the sea.

Today, it leaves the Príncipe Pío station aboard an electric locomotive 289-015, a historic machine from the 1960s belonging to

that is completed with the traditional wooden carriages called

Yet another reason to spend a day (or a week) in this town in the south of the Community of Madrid with so many charms on display.

PRACTICAL GUIDE

PRACTICAL GUIDE

WHERE TO SLEEP

At the

, a lifelong guest house where you can live the local essence.

WHERE TO EAT

In

.

Perfect to taste the good cuisine of the area.

MORE INFORMATION

On the Aranjuez Tourism website.

www.visitaaranjuez.es.

You can follow

on

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