Royal Palace of Aranjuez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Royal Palace of Aranjuez
Palacio Real de Aranjuez
General information
Architectural style	Renaissance
Location	Aranjuez (Madrid). Spain
Opened	Exclusive property for the monarch: 1523
Management	Patrimonio Nacional
Design and construction
Architect	Juan Bautista de Toledo Juan de Herrera Francesco Sabatini Giuseppe Gricci Rafael Contreras Muñoz
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	ii, iv
Designated:	2001 (25th session)
Part of:	Aranjuez Cultural Landscape
Reference #:	1044
Region:	Europe and North America
Spanish Property of Cultural Interest
Official name: Palacio de Aranjuez con sus dependencias
Type:	Non-movable
Criteria:	Monument
Designated:	3 June 1931
Reference #:	RI-51-0001063

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez (Spanish: Palacio Real de Aranjuez) is one of the official homes for the Spanish royal family. It is located in the town of Aranjuez in Madrid, Spain. The palace started in the 1500s as a special hunting place for kings.

King Philip II ordered it to be built. Under his rule, it became one of four main places where the royal court stayed during different seasons. The royal estate includes beautiful gardens and forests with many different kinds of plants.

Important agreements, called treaties, were signed here. Also, several members of the royal family died in the palace.

In 1931, during the Second Spanish Republic, the royal estate was declared an Artistic Historical Monument. This meant it was protected and opened to the public. From 1977 to 1983, the palace was used to host important guests from other countries.

The palace, its gardens, and other buildings are part of the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape. This whole area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Today, the palace has a museum on its ground floor. The royal rooms and gardens are open for people to visit. The public agency Patrimonio Nacional manages it.

History of the Royal Palace

In the 1100s, a group called the Order of Santiago created a special hunting reserve near the Tagus and Jarama rivers.

The area became a royal site in the 1500s. The leader of the Order of Santiago, Lorenzo I Suárez de Figueroa, built a large hunting lodge. It was for members of the order and their royal friends to relax. This area is now an open park for festivals.

In 1523, Charles I of Spain took over the area. He called it the Royal Woods and House of Aranjuez. He used it to entertain his guests during the spring hunting season.

In 1551, King Charles I started a botanical garden. He wanted to study new plants brought from the Americas. However, this project was not fully successful because he had other things to focus on.

Philip II liked the rich land of Aranjuez. In 1561, he decided that a part of the land north of the Tagus river should be used for gardens and farming.

Next to this area, south of the river, King Philip II began building the first palace. It was on the same spot as the building you see today. Philip hired architects Juan Bautista de Toledo and later Juan de Herrera. They also worked on the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo. The site also had exotic animals like dromedaries (camels). There were about 10 in 1583 and about 40 in 1598.

After Philip's death in 1598, the palace was still not finished. Only the royal apartments, the chapel, the south tower, and part of the western side were done. Problems in the country caused the building project to stop.

In 1700, the first Bourbon king of Spain, Philip V, decided to continue the work. He wanted Aranjuez to be as grand as the Palace of Versailles in France. This grand style was later used for the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. Philip V added a new north tower and finished the west side. This gave the palace the shape it has today. There were about 200 royal dromedaries. They grazed around or were used for carrying things.

The palace was almost destroyed by a fire in 1748.

Ferdinand VI rebuilt the palace. He kept the original foundations but made the new building in the popular late baroque style of the 1700s. This new design had a grand outside and many richly decorated rooms inside.

The wings enclosing the courtyard were added in the 18th century.

The palace you see today is mostly thanks to Charles III. He worked to improve the capital city and modernize Spain.

The main architect for the modern palace was the Italian Francesco Sabatini. He designed the two west wings. These wings enclose the main courtyard, creating three sides of the main square that faces the original entrance. This area is near the Raso de Estrella, where the two rivers meet. One end of this complex had the chapel, and the other was planned as a theater, but it was never finished.

The palace's decoration was improved in the 1700s and 1800s with paintings by different artists. The halls were filled with wooden furniture and collections of tapestries, clocks, lamps, and sculptures. Many of these special pieces still decorate the rooms. The Salón de Porcelana (Porcelain Room) was a favorite spot for Charles III.

Charles III often stayed at Aranjuez. He chose it as his spring and summer home. In those days, the Royal Court would leave Madrid in the spring and not return until October.

King Charles enjoyed the palace and its country setting. He set up an experimental farm called Cortijo de San Isidro. He also divided the palace gardens into the small Jardín del Parterre and the larger Jardín de la Isla. He held big parties and sometimes sailed along the Tagus river in beautiful, golden boats called falúas.

Charles' son, Charles IV, and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma built a small building called the Casa del Labrador (farmhouse). Today, this building is open to the public and is a great example of Neoclassical architecture.

In 1807, Manuel Godoy, a close advisor to Charles IV, tried to make peace with France under Napoleon. But he faced opposition from the king's son, Ferdinand. In 1808, while Godoy was in Aranjuez, rumors of a French invasion spread. An angry crowd, led by Ferdinand's supporters, found Godoy hiding. He was captured and later sent away.

Because of this event, known as the Mutiny of Aranjuez, King Charles IV gave up his throne in the palace's Salón del Trono. His son Ferdinand VII became king, but he also gave up the throne later that year.

In September 1808, a new government body, the Supreme Central Junta, was officially formed in the Chapel of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez.

After the royal family returned to power, Alfonso XII chose the Royal Palace of Aranjuez as the home for the family of the Dukes of Montpensier. His future wife, Mercedes of Orléans, was their daughter. In 1878, the bride and her group arrived for the wedding ceremony at a special temporary railway station built near the palace.

This was the last big event held at Aranjuez. Later monarchs, like Maria Christina of Austria and Alfonso XIII, preferred the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso for their royal vacations.

Palace Design and Layout

The palace is the main part of a large royal estate. To the north were gardens for growing food, which are now farmland. These lands have tree-lined "royal rides" that are now open to the public for walking. To the east are three paved roads where noble families built their homes. To the west are three rural paths, one of which was the royal road lined with old barracks.

Further from the palace is an open area called the Raso de Estrella. This was the site of the first hunting lodge and is now a festival ground. The original train station was also here. Right in front of the palace is an oval lawn with large stone benches. The tourist mini-train stop is nearby. To the south is the Plaza de Parejas, a sandy area surrounded by other palace buildings.

Plaza de Parejas

Las parejas reales (an equestrian festival held outside the palace) by Luis Paret y Alcázar in 1770. Currently in Museo del Prado.

South of the palace is a large open square called Plaza de las Parejas. This name comes from the horse-riding events once held there, where nobles competed in pairs (parejas).

On the east side of the square is a two-story Renaissance-style building. This was an auxiliary building for the palace (Casa de Caballeros y Oficios), now used as local law courts and tax offices. To the west is a warehouse area, servant halls, and a separate kitchen-house built after a fire. In front of the palace (later a hotel) is the Casa del Principe de Paz, which was meant to be the home of Manuel Godoy.

The palace has two floors. The ground floor has windows with rounded tops. The upper floor has balconies with iron railings. The central part of the palace rises to a third level, topped by a triangular shape called a pediment. This pediment has the shield of Ferdinand VI. On either side of the shield are inscriptions. The left one says "Philippus II / Institvit / Philippus V / provexit" (started by Philip II and continued by Philip V). The right one says "Ferdinandu / VI Pius Felix / Consummavit / An MDCCLII" (Finished in 1752 by the faithful and devout Ferdinand VI).

Building Materials

The entire palace is built with red brick and white limestone details from a place called Colmenar de Oreja.

Main Entrance

The public usually enters from the east, using the M-305 road and a bridge. For royalty, the traditional way to enter was from the west. They would cross the Tagus river, then travel east, entering through the Plaza de Armas and the main archway of the central building.

The central part of the building is taller to highlight the main entrance. This entrance has five symmetrical arches. On the ledge above, there are statues carved by Pedro Martinengo. They show Philip II, Philip V, and Ferdinand VI.

On both sides of the entrance, the wings have three large arches. These also emphasize the grandeur of this royal entrance. Above the main entrance is a large balcony with stone railings overlooking the courtyard.

The entrance leads into a hall, which then opens to a grand central staircase. This staircase was made by Giacomo Bonavía for Ferdinand VI. The railing is made of black iron with gold trim, fitting the Rococo style. A large, fancy chandelier made of gilt bronze and crystal hangs from the ceiling. It came from La Granja.

Inside the Palace

Behind the main part of the palace is an inner courtyard. Around this courtyard are various halls. In two corners, you can see small towers with domes. One of these towers has a clock.

The lobby is decorated with sculptures. On the top floor, there are three marble busts in alcoves. They show Louis XIV of France, his wife Maria Theresa of Spain, and their son Louis, the Grand Dauphin. These busts were made in 1683 by French sculptor Antoine Coysevox. They are there because the Spanish Royal Bourbon family had strong connections to the French monarchy. The Grand Dauphin was the father of Philip V.

Almost all the halls have clocks of different sizes and styles. This is because King Charles IV loved collecting clocks and was interested in how they worked.

Queen's Guard Room

This room has three large paintings by Italian artist Luca Giordano. They show scenes from the life of King Solomon. The furniture is made of olive wood from the time of King Charles IV. The clocks are from Charles IV's collection.

Queen Isabel II's Room

This room is decorated with paintings of myths by Luca Giordano. These include Jupiter and Leda, Aeolus (the god of wind), and Triptolemus. The furniture is in the Empire style.

Musical Antechamber

This room was also known as "the tram-station." It was used to welcome important guests. It has 17th-century Italian biblical scenes and religious paintings by Francesco Solimena.

Queen's Music Room

An olive wood piano made in England was a gift from Empress Eugénie de Montijo to Queen Isabel II. The other furniture is Empire style mahogany. The bronze neo-Gothic lamp hanging from the ceiling is from the 1800s.

Queen's Ante-Oratory

This room has a mosaic made from small pieces (tessera) produced in the Vatican workshop. It was a gift from Pope Leo XIII to King Alfonso XII when he married Maria Christina of Austria.

Queen's Oratory

The windows in this room look out onto the central courtyard. It was rebuilt during the time of King Charles IV by Juan de Villanueva. The room is decorated with stucco. Its walls have frescoes painted around 1791 by Francisco Bayeu y Subías, who was the brother-in-law of Francisco de Goya. The paintings show scenes like the Adoration of the Magi, Adoration of the Shepherds, the Flight into Egypt, and the Visitation. In the center of the ceiling, God the Father is shown with angels. At the top of the dome, the dove of the Holy Spirit flies. The painting of the Immaculate Mary in the center is by Mariano Salvador Maella.

Throne Room

Salón del Trono

The ceiling of this room has a recessed dome decorated with Pompeian style frescoes. These were painted by Vicente Camarón in 1851 and represent the Monarchy. The royal crown is held up by figures of Venus and Industry. To the right are Arts, and to the left are Abundance and Prudence. Around the room, there is a stucco base that looks like green marble. Kings used this room for formal visits. The walls are covered with red velvet. Most of the furniture is from the time of Isabel II. The fancy French Louis XVI style royal thrones were used by Alfonso XII and his wife.

Queen's Office

Queen Isabel II used this room as an office, though it was once a bedroom. Paintings decorate its walls, including Vase by Jan Brueghel. There is also a landscape by Martínez del Mazo, two small paintings of classical buildings by Francisco Galli Bibiena, and three vases by Arellano. The ceiling is painted in Pompeian style by Mariano Salvador Maella with scenes from the Passion of Christ. Next to this room is a small private chapel with a painting of the Virgin by Luca Giordano. The lamp hanging from the ceiling is made of glass from La Granja de San Ildefonso. The furniture is from the time of Charles IV, made at the Royal Workshop, and features beautiful wood inlay work.

Porcelain Room

Gabinete de Porcelana

King Charles III ordered this room to be made. It was created by the Royal Porcelain Factory of the Buen Retiro in Madrid. This medium-sized room has walls and ceilings completely covered with white porcelain plaques. These plaques have Rococo decorations with Chinese-inspired designs. You can see garlands of flowers, fruits, monkeys, vases, mandarins, parrots, samurais, birds, and dragons. The ceramic plaques are attached to wooden walls with screws. They were made between 1760 and 1765 by Giuseppe Gricci. The floor is marble. Eight large mirrors on the walls make the decorations look even bigger. Among the decorations are groups of people in everyday scenes. In the center of the ceiling, a lamp shaped like a palm tree rises. A Chinese figure with a hand fan and a monkey on his shoulders climbs the tree trunk. This room was used for games and play.

Queen's Bedroom

The dome is decorated with frescoes by Zacarías González Velázquez. These paintings show ideas like Science, Virtue, Art, Law, and Monarchy. The main piece of furniture is the Isabel II style bed. It was a gift from the city of Barcelona to Queen Isabel II when she married Francis of Assisi of Bourbon. The side tables were made by Daumier's workshop.

Queen's Boudoir

The walls of this room are covered with silk curtains from factories in Valencia. The boudoir (dressing table) is made of palo santo wood, with mirrors on both sides and a chair with mother-of-pearl and gold inlay. The furniture is from the time of Isabel II. The ceiling is painted by Vicente Camarón with pictures of the seasons.

Ballroom

This room separates the private rooms of the King and Queen. The furniture is in the Isabel II style from the late 1800s. It is not the original furniture, which was lost in a fire in the late 1800s.

Formal Dining Room

This room was once a place for discussions during the reign of Ferdinand VI. Charles III used it as a banquet hall for special occasions, as the palace had other, less formal dining rooms. It has a vaulted ceiling painted around 1750 by Jacopo Amigoni with complex symbolic meanings. The figure of Father Time is surrounded by women trying to stop him from flying away. Truth is shown as a mother of angels, and Wisdom honors her. The Monarchy is shown with its good qualities and virtues, like Justice, Religion, and Charity. There are also paintings in gray tones representing parts of the world where the Monarchy had land. Sometimes, this room was also used as a ballroom. The floor is in the Rococo style and is very well made, with stucco work by Carlos Antonio Bernasconi. This work shows military items, sheet music, and musical instruments.

King's Bedroom

The Empire style wooden bed is made of mahogany with bronze decorations. The ceiling was painted by Jacopo Amigoni and Bartolomé Rusca. It features ideas of Peace, Justice, and Abundance by Bartolomé Rusca. Above the bed is a painting of Christ on the Cross by Anton Raphael Mengs from 1761. There is also a painting from 1825 of the Madonna and Child by José de Madrazo Agudo. This room connects to a small hall.

Mirrors' Room

This room is called the Salón de espejos (Mirrors' Room) because its walls are completely covered with mirrors from the La Granja de San Ildefonso factory. King Charles IV used this room as a dressing room. The ceiling is painted in Pompeian style by Juan de Mata Duque around 1803.

Moorish Room

Moorish Room

Queen Isabel II had this room made between 1847 and 1851. It is decorated in a Moorish style, similar to the Sala de Dos Hermanas in the Alhambra in Granada. This work by Rafael Contreras Muñoz, along with the Porcelain Room, is one of the most admired sights. Its furniture includes a porcelain central table and a bronze and crystal lamp. It was mainly used as a smoking room for men. The walls are decorated with brightly colored plasterwork.

King's Office

This room has a ceiling with Pompeian style frescoes by Juan de Mata Duque. They show ideas related to the Liberal Arts. There is an olive wood desk decorated with bronze and marble. The Empire style furniture was made by Jacob Desmalter, who was Napoleon Bonaparte's cabinetmaker.

King's Study Room

This room has a Pompeian style ceiling painted by Juan de Mata Duque. The furniture is in the Charles IV style.

Chinese Room

Inside this room is a collection of 203 small paintings. The Emperor of China gave them as a gift to Queen Isabel II. They are made with ink on rice paper and show scenes from the court, parties, theater, and animals. The ceiling was painted by Zacarías González Velázquez. It shows mythological scenes in the center and countryside scenes on both sides. A globe-shaped lamp with Chinese designs hangs from the ceiling.

King's Guardroom

This is one of the oldest halls in the palace. It was built during the time of Philip II. It has six large paintings by Luca Giordano. Three of them show biblical themes: The death of Absalom, David wearing the breastplate, and Construction of Solomon's Temple. The other three show military scenes. The mahogany chairs are from the 1700s.

Paintings of the Palace

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  View of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez by Francesco Battaglioli in 1756. Museo del Prado

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  View of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez from the east side by Fernando Brambila published in the work View of the Royal Sites and of Madrid in 1830

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  View of the Royal Site of Aranjuez, of the Grande Falls and the Palace; from the east side by Fernando Brambila published in the work View of the Royal Sites and of Madrid in 1830

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See also

In Spanish: Palacio Real de Aranjuez para niños