A half-day excursion to Aranjuez with English guides. Coach trip from Madrid to discover the splendorous town of Aranjuez, a majestic fusion of architecture and nature where the Royal Palace and historic gardens of Aranjuez like the Flower-bed Garden, Prince’s Garden or Island Garden blend with tree lined avenues, orchards and groves. This cultural landscape located on the banks of the Tagus River was recognized as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2001.

A half-day excursion accompanied by official tourist guides who explain the history of the town, the monuments, the characteristics and traditions, travelling by modern, fully air-conditioned coach. Departure from our terminal with destination Aranjuez. “El Real Sitio y Villa de Aranjuez” constitutes a perfect place for tourism and the pleasure of the senses, for which it has earned the recognition as Cultural Landscape of World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2001. Its historical and monumental Old Town is surrounded by large and lush gardens, adding to its landscape the beauty of its buildings. We will visit: The Royal Palace, Gardens and Royal Barges. Return to Madrid and the end of our services.

– Roundtrip transportation by bus from Madrid to Toledo with official guide
– Tickets to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez
– Accompanying guide throughout the trip
– Travelers insurance

The town of Aranjuez is a splendid fusion of architecture and nature where the Royal Palace and historic gardens like El Principe or La Isla blend with tree lined avenues, orchards and groves, is situated in the south of the region of Madrid. For centuries the Spanish kings spent the spring in the Palace of Aranjuez, due to its location in a fresh and fertile meadow formed by the confluence of the rivers Jarama and Tagus. This cultural landscape was recognized as World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2001.

Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Philip II, endorsing an old project of his father, Emperor Charles V, commands in 1561 the substitution of the old master residence of Aranjuez for a new building, the antecedent of the actual Royal Palace. In 1715 Philip V continues the work and builds the whole structure of the actual palace. Between 1660 and 1665 it suffers great fires and Ferdinand VI orders the reconstruction. In times of Charles III two side wings were added, that form the western body of the building and reflect the frenchified taste. In its decoration Rococo, Elizabethan, Chinoiserie and Arab motives are combined.

The Old Town. The Old Town of Aranjuez has been declared Conjunto Historico-Artistico (Historic-Artistic Complex) since it is a singular sample of baroque urbanism. Designed in 1747 by Giacomo Bonavia, as from the start as Villa, it was conceived as a noble place where buildings of dignified constructions found their place. Large houses with patios, domes, little palaces, convents, balconies, squares, wide streets, all a testimony of four centuries of history.

The Gardens. With the same refinement and care with which was built the Royal Palace, the gardens that surround it were drawn, constructed and decorated during two centuries. Following the model of Versailles, they wanted to control nature and convert the gardens in yet another room of the palace. The Garden of “La Isla” counts with a splendid group of trees, large avenues and countless fountains of stone and marble dedicated to persons and scenes of Greek mythology. On the other side we find the Garden of “Parterre” which highlights a great profusion and variety of flowers. The Garden “El Principe”, the largest of all, counts with wide boulevards and a great variety of trees. Down at the end we will find the “Casa del Labrador”, one of the constructions of mayor splendour of the Bourbon dynasty. The Museum of Barges is situated close to the pier, where luxurious barges can be seen, that belonged to Charles IV, Ferdinand VII or Alfonso XII and once navigated along the river Tagus. The abundant natural spaces that form the “Real Sitio” find their climax in the Groves and the Historic Boulevards. The Sea of Ontigola is a rich ecosystem of aquatic birds and lakeside flora. “El Regajal”, considered one of the largest reserves of butterflies, is a natural enclave with interesting botanic and entomologic elements.