Very near to Madrid, the town of Aranjuez offers to tourists the attractions of its qardens and palaces. lt is placed in a rich lowland area where Tajo and Jarama rivers meet. This beautiful place was choosed as a Royal Site by the Spanish Monarchs.
During Middle Ages it belonged to Santlago's (St. James) Order, passing after that into Haestrazgo's (Office of Grand Master), and with this'Order, to Catholic Monarchs.
Philip Il decided to build a new Palace without demolishing the o7d one (today lost because of a fire). It was a noble style building, projected by Juan de Herrera and Juan Rautista de Toledo (El Escorial's Architects). The work suffered several changes during 18th Century. although today the original building (16th Century), still stands.
Carlos III, and specially his song Carlos IV, tried very hardly the Royal Site's embellishment. Several Palace's rooms were magnificenty decorated, the Theatre was built by Jairne Marquet; also San Pascual's Church and Convent, which were built by Sabatini. And Isidro González Velázquez built La Casa del Labrador (Farmer's Cottage).
The Royal Palace
Work of 16th and 18th Centuries, it shows a certain architectural unity undoubtly beautiful. Inside, firstly-the stairs attracts attention because of its outstanding impressiveness. -Among its' rooms it deserves to remark, above all, La Sala China (The Chines 1e Pórcelain Room), completely covered by porcelain pieces from El Buen Retiro (Porcelain Factory), manufactured between 1759 and 1765. El Salon del Trono, El Salon de los Espejos, and many other rooms, are decorated in 18th and 19th centuries style and they keep wall and easel paintings worth paying attention to them.
Gardens
Right front of the Royal Palace are located Jardines de la Isla (Island Gardens), which are called like this because of being bordered by Tajo River. The Jardin del Parterre, French style, was designed in 18th Century. It is distinguished by its richness in flowers and by Hércules and Anteo's Fountains. Jardin de la Isla keeps a luxuriant vegetation; among its promenades outstands the Salón de los Reyes Católicos. lt contains many trees, wide avenues and a number of stone and marble fountains representing mythological figures and scenes such as Arpias, Venus, Diana, Baco and Neptuno fountains.
The second of big Aranjuez Gardens is the Jardin del Principe, created by Carlos IV. It is located at North-east of the town, between the river and Calle de la Reina. It covers 150 hectares, and offers to the visitor truly beautiflul and wide avenues and fountains; among these it is worth remembering Atlantes, Narciso, Diana, Apolo, etc ... Fountains. Very charming is the little greek temple, Juan de Villanueva's work, located in a place called "Los Chinescos".
Casa del Labrador
Built during the kingdorn of CarJos IV by Isidro González Velázquez in the last years of 18th Century. In this miniature palacc we should specially mention the way its rooms are decorated which is a mixture of the Neoclasscial style with other tendencies in vogue at that time. Imperial, Pompeyan and Rococo to name a few. There we  should be made to Gabinete Platino (Platinum Studio), a room used exclusivelycan admire the richness of the fornitures, golds, platinums or silks. Special mention by the Queen ano featuring hard wood decoration encrusted with gold and platinum.
Casa de Marinos
It is located in Jardin del Principe, where houses Faluas (kind of Gondolas), used by kings for their excursions along the river.
Iglesia de San Antonio
Next to the Royal Palace, is located in a square with the same name. lt is a 17th Century temple, built by Isidro González Velázquez and Santiago Bonavia. lt has a curved portico with a triangular gabel and a stone balustrade.
Casas de Of icios
Casas de Cabal leros and Casas de Infantes . - The f irst two are located on one side of San Antonio Square, a vantage point from which one can view their splendid porticos. Their original function was to provide lodging for the servants and visitors to the Court. Juan de Herrera is responsible for the construction of Casa de Oficios y Caballeros, while Casa de Infantes was the creation of Juan de Villanueva.
San Carlos Hospital
CarJos 111 commissioned the construction of the hospital so that the palacc servants would have medical care. lt has a simple brick portico enhanced by a trianqular gable set in an arch.
San Pascual Convent
lt is located, across from the hospital. lt was built by the architect Francisco Sabatini between 1765 and 1770. The set of columns and pillars, crowned by a gable, stands out from the Neoclassical facade and its two towers.
Alpajés Church
lt is the oldest church of Aranjuez. Special mention should be made of the magnificent window over which we find the shield of Carlos 11 with the fleece. lt has a plain brick facade and the white stone decorations are the most interesten aspect of the exterior.
The magnificence of these monuments should not blind us to the rest of the town because the old, historical part of Aranjuez is well worth a visit. A trip to the Royal Site should be topped offl with a visit to The Theatre, built in 1767. The market, an interesting example of iron architecture built in the middle of the 19th Century, and The Bullring, first built in 1791 and reconstructed in 1829 after suffering a devastating fire.
MONUMENTS
CLOSED MONDAYS. Autumn - Winter : 10.00 - 17.15 Spring - Summer : 10.00 - 18.15
GARDENS: Open daily Autumn - Winter : 08.00 - 18.30 Spring - Summer : 08.00 - 20.30

“AARDBEIENTREIN” RIJDT WEER

Op 9 april jl. is de “Tren de la Fresa” (aardbeientrein) aan zijn 21e seizoen begonnen. Dit jaar zullen er 33 ritten tussen Madrid en Aranjuez gemaakt worden; drie meer dan in 2004. Deze ritten zullen in het weekeinde plaatsvinden in de maanden april, mei, juni, september en oktober.
Deze historische trein vertrekt vanaf het station Puerta de Atocha AVE en na een rit van een klein uur komt men aan in het historische Aranjuez. In Aranjuez volgt dan een panaromabezoek aan deze stad en aan het koninklijk paleis Palacio Real (o.l.v. een gids) en het museum Museo de Falúas. De “Tren de la Fresa” rijdt dezelfde route als ruim 150 jaar geleden, toen de spoorlijn Madrid-Aranjuez werd geopend. En om de naam eer aan te doen, worden in de trein aardbeien uitgedeeld.
Het vertrek vanaf het station Puerta de Atocha-AVE is om 10.05 uur, met aankomst in Aranjuez om 10.55 uur.
De terugreis vanuit Aranjuez wordt aanvaard om 18.00 uur en u bent weer terug op het station in Madrid om 18.50 uur.
De prijs bedraagt 24,00 euro voor volwassenen; kinderen van 2 tot 12 jaar betalen 16,00 euro en kinderen onder de 2 jaar reizen gratis mits zij geen zitplaats innemen.
In de prijs is inbegrepen de rit per historische trein Madrid-Aranjuez en v.v.; aardbeien proeven in de trein; vervoer per bus vanaf het station van Aranjuez naar het historische centrum van de stad; panoramabezoek aan het historische centrum en bezoek aan het Palacio Real en het Museo de Falúas.
Kaartjes zijn verkrijgbaar in de voorverkoop en op de dag zelf; o.a. bij de verkooppunten van de RENFE en bepaalde reisbureau’s in Spanje.
Het reserveringstelefoonnummer van de RENFE is: (00 34) 902 240 202.