A tour of the Royal Gardens of Aranjuez
Considered the most beautiful of their time, visiting them is a perfect getaway from Madrid.
Garden of the Prince of Aranjuez
Photo: Miguel Ángel Sanz
So come to Madrid to enjoy the best flamenco in the world at one of our flamenco venues and, while you’re at it, you want to take the opportunity to learn more about Spain’s history and culture. A fantastic way to enrich your trip to Madrid is to take a day trip to the surrounding area to discover new destinations—here’s one of them.
Less than 50 km from downtown Madrid—with easy access from the city center by train, bus, and car—lies one of the UNESCOWorld Heritage as designated by UNESCO in the Region of Madrid, Aranjuez, whose historic sites and landscape are not to be missed.
Plaza de Mariblanca with the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in the background
Photo: Antonio López Velasco
In other articles, we've told you about its cuisine and its popular Strawberry Train, but today we want to tell you about its Royal Gardens, considered the most beautiful of their time.
In the surroundings of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez there are several historic gardens of great charm. Each one of them is different because it follows the style of its time and the tastes of the monarch who ordered it.
The Prince’s Garden was built over the course of several reigns and is the largest in all of Aranjuez. It was designed according to the prevailing landscape architecture style in the rest of Europe and is home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Prince’s Gate, the Fernando VI Pier, the Falúas Museum, and the Royal House of the Farmer. You can take a river cruise that follows a circular route along the Tagus River, circling this garden.
The beautiful Ceres Fountain in the Island Garden
Photo: Manuel Torres Garcia
The Garden of the Island takes its name because it is surrounded by the waters of the Tagus River and its access is exclusively through bridges. It is a unique example of a Spanish Renaissance garden along with the Casa de Campo in Madrid. It is a pleasant green area with many trees, avenues and decorative fountains representing figures and mythological scenes in stone and marble.
The Parterre Garden is one of the few examples of French classical gardening and it features fountains dedicated to Hercules and Antaeus, Ceres and the Nereids. In this garden you will find the Garden of the Statues that overlooks the King's Garden and the Garden of the King and Queen, the former being one of the few examples of Renaissance gardens in the form of an enclosed garden in Spain.
The Tajo river passing through Aranjuez
Photo: José Miguel Sánchez
Finally, the Garden of Isabel II was the first landscaped urban space in Aranjuez created for public use, and probably one of the first in Spain, and in it you will find a bronze statue commemorating the accession to the throne of Isabel II.
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