Royal Palace of Aranjuez

The Royal Palace of Aranjuez stands on the Tagus river some 50 kilometres south of Madrid and is one of the four royal residences of Spain. Philip II began the complex in 1561 as a summer residence, but today's appearance was shaped by the rebuilding under Philip V from 1727 and the additions of two symmetrical wings under Charles III. The 220-room palace was the stage of the Aranjuez Mutiny of 1808, which forced the abdication of Charles IV. Famous interiors include the Porcelain Room lined with Capodimonte ceramics, the Arabic Smoking Room and the Rococo apartments of Isabella II. Since 2001 the ensemble together with the Tagus cultural landscape has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jardin del Principe and Jardin de la Isla gardens are open to the public free of charge.