Skip the crowds and head to the nearby Royal Palace of Aranjuez

🌟▫ Every time I go to Madrid, it feels a bit dull ▫ But there are so many places worth visiting around Madrid ▫ So this time, I stayed in Madrid and took day trips to destinations nearby ㅤ 🌟 ▫ Aranjuez is a small town not far from Madrid, and the main attraction here is the still-in-use Royal Palace of Aranjuez ㅤ 🌟 ▫ Almost all rooms in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez are open for visitors to explore at will, with few tourists and a great experience. The “Chinese Room” is particularly distinctive, filled with various Chinese-style porcelain and sculptures, though the craftsmanship is a bit rough. ㅤ 🌟 ▫ My personal favorite, however, is a room inspired by the Alhambra, with Islamic architecture and Rococo decorations – it’s truly stunning, almost as amazing as the original “Palace of the Nasrids” ㅤ 🌟 ▫ Besides the palace, Aranjuez was also included in the World Heritage List in 2001. The official introduction is as follows: 🌟 ▫ The cultural landscape of Aranjuez reflects many complex relationships, such as the relationship between human activity and nature, the relationship between winding waterways and geometrically designed landscapes, the relationship between the countryside and the city, and the relationship between the forest environment and the splendid architecture of the area. For 300 years, the Spanish monarchy has devoted much effort to the cultural landscape of Aranjuez, showing the world its marvelous transformations. We can see not only the concepts of humanism and political centralization but also the characteristics of the French-style Baroque gardens built in the 18th century, as well as the urban lifestyle developed with plant cultivation and livestock breeding during the Enlightenment. ㅤ ▫ Aranjuez is close to Toledo, and you can visit both in one trip, especially if you’re driving. ⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-20:00, closed on Mondays, 🎫 Tickets: 9 euros, but it’s free to visit from 15:00-19:00 on Wednesdays and Sundays! 🚗 Transportation: ▫ Take the C3 line of the regional train from Atoch Station in Madrid directly to Aranjuez ▫ But driving is more recommended, as you can visit Toledo at the same time. #OffTheBeatenPath #SpainTravel #EuropeanTravel #CulturalSites #WorldHeritage ㅤ