The desire to visit Aranjuez appeared under the influence of Adagio from the “Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra” by Joaquin Rodrigo back in the 70s of the last century. Much later I heard the "Concert" completely performed by Narciso Iepes during his tour in the USSR. In 2010, I finally made an excursion to this Royal Residence in a group tour, but the opportunity to travel did not present itself until Monday, when the Royal Palace is closed to visitors. The story I posted on the travel agency forum was deleted in order to exclude the temptation for other tourists - “some began to allow themselves here! »
On another independent trip to Spain, I started a series of my excursions from Madrid with a visit to Aranjuez. Departed by train from Atocha station. The Madrid-Aranjuez railway line was the first in Spain; traffic began on it in 1851.
The Royal Palace is about ten minutes walk along the shady streets: from the station to the right to the crossroads, then to the left. The residence was created for rest in peace and bliss, for entertainment outside the bustle of the capital. The building, finally completed in the 18th century, is the current residence of the Royal Family, not all rooms are open to visitors. Bags are translucent, photography is prohibited. One American woman was "caught" taking pictures, the pictures were erased, although, as far as I know, they can be restored. The Porcelain Hall, decorated by the masters of the Royal Porcelain Factory, and the ceiling of the Arab Cabinet, which were restored by the same masters who restored the Alhambra Palaces, left a special impression. I met in I-te a clearly secret and not very high-quality picture of the Hall of Shells, but now this hall is not available.
Between the gardens of the Parterre behind the Palace and Piazza San Antonio, I walked to the Main Park.
I regretted that even those fountains that I saw operating on the previous trip did not work. The palace ensemble is the property of the Royal family, Juan Carlos was condemned for extravagance and it seems that they decided to cut costs.
At the end of the alley leading from the entrance to the Main Park is the Royal Boat Museum, you can visit it with the same ticket as for the Royal Palace. There is a strict, no frills, but with magnificent contours, the rowboat of King Alfonso XIII, brought from Santander, and the luxurious baroque pleasure boat of Queen Christina from San Sebastian. You can not take pictures, there were only three visitors, the same number of guards. Away from the museum is a pretty grotto with closed doors at the entrance, its purpose could not be found out.
The main park is vast, all the paths and alleys cannot be bypassed in a whole day. By the time he got to the palace, the Labrador of Charles IV, got tired, he no longer had the strength to inspect him.
I envied the local squirrels, tirelessly rushing through the lawns and trees.
On the back side, past the boat station, I went to the gardens of the Parterre behind the Palace at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers. Above the pond, poetically overgrown with reeds, is a wide embankment. It was long past noon, and the crowd had dwindled.
The parterre at the palace itself is connected to the gardens of the Island by the graceful Los Puertes de la Ria. What I like about Spain is the ubiquitous pumps with good drinking water, there is one near the bridge, there was also one at the entrance to the Main Park, to the delight of schoolchildren who had fun with a jet of water.
Several European tourists habitually settled down on the lawn near a huge cage with songbirds in accordance with their democratic habits of republican Europe - a couple of minutes later security officers arrived in an environmentally friendly bicycle transport. Observation works well here.
Tourists, who were perplexed about the claims for what they thought was a normal exit to the lawn, were quite clearly explained that this was not municipal property, but royal property, and this entailed special rules of conduct.
By evening, the parks are empty. My one-day voyage, "discreet and sentimental", came to an end.
On another independent trip to Spain, I started a series of my excursions from Madrid with a visit to Aranjuez. Departed by train from Atocha station. The Madrid-Aranjuez railway line was the first in Spain; traffic began on it in 1851.
The Royal Palace is about ten minutes walk along the shady streets: from the station to the right to the crossroads, then to the left. The residence was created for rest in peace and bliss, for entertainment outside the bustle of the capital. The building, finally completed in the 18th century, is the current residence of the Royal Family, not all rooms are open to visitors. Bags are translucent, photography is prohibited. One American woman was "caught" taking pictures, the pictures were erased, although, as far as I know, they can be restored. The Porcelain Hall, decorated by the masters of the Royal Porcelain Factory, and the ceiling of the Arab Cabinet, which were restored by the same masters who restored the Alhambra Palaces, left a special impression. I met in I-te a clearly secret and not very high-quality picture of the Hall of Shells, but now this hall is not available.
Between the gardens of the Parterre behind the Palace and Piazza San Antonio, I walked to the Main Park.
I regretted that even those fountains that I saw operating on the previous trip did not work. The palace ensemble is the property of the Royal family, Juan Carlos was condemned for extravagance and it seems that they decided to cut costs.
At the end of the alley leading from the entrance to the Main Park is the Royal Boat Museum, you can visit it with the same ticket as for the Royal Palace. There is a strict, no frills, but with magnificent contours, the rowboat of King Alfonso XIII, brought from Santander, and the luxurious baroque pleasure boat of Queen Christina from San Sebastian. You can not take pictures, there were only three visitors, the same number of guards. Away from the museum is a pretty grotto with closed doors at the entrance, its purpose could not be found out.
The main park is vast, all the paths and alleys cannot be bypassed in a whole day. By the time he got to the palace, the Labrador of Charles IV, got tired, he no longer had the strength to inspect him.
I envied the local squirrels, tirelessly rushing through the lawns and trees.
On the back side, past the boat station, I went to the gardens of the Parterre behind the Palace at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers. Above the pond, poetically overgrown with reeds, is a wide embankment. It was long past noon, and the crowd had dwindled.
The parterre at the palace itself is connected to the gardens of the Island by the graceful Los Puertes de la Ria. What I like about Spain is the ubiquitous pumps with good drinking water, there is one near the bridge, there was also one at the entrance to the Main Park, to the delight of schoolchildren who had fun with a jet of water.
Several European tourists habitually settled down on the lawn near a huge cage with songbirds in accordance with their democratic habits of republican Europe - a couple of minutes later security officers arrived in an environmentally friendly bicycle transport. Observation works well here.
Tourists, who were perplexed about the claims for what they thought was a normal exit to the lawn, were quite clearly explained that this was not municipal property, but royal property, and this entailed special rules of conduct.
By evening, the parks are empty. My one-day voyage, "discreet and sentimental", came to an end.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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