Aranjuez old town
Beyond the palace and the gardens, the urban heart of Aranjuez is a gem in its own right: one of the finest examples of enlightened 18th-century urban planning in Spain, with wide streets, orderly squares and buildings designed to serve the royal court. Walking through it completes the picture of the Royal Site.
A city designed for kings
When Charles III decided to allow people to live permanently in Aranjuez (previously it had been only a seasonal royal residence), he commissioned a regular urban layout with broad main axes and orderly blocks — remarkably forward-thinking for its time. That is why the old town has such an open, light-filled feel, so different from medieval town centres. It forms part of the Cultural Landscape declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
What to see in the old town
- Plaza de Parejas: the great square beside the palace, formerly the setting for the court's equestrian games and festivities.
- Bullring: one of the oldest in Spain (18th century), today also a cultural and museum space.
- Covered food market: the perfect place to taste and buy local produce (asparagus, strawberries).
- Church of San Antonio, on the Plaza de la Constitución, presiding over the old town.
- The Plaza de la Mariblanca and the arcaded streets of the enlightened grid.
Discover the old town with a local guide
The guided walking tour of Aranjuez takes you through the old town and its most historically significant corners on foot.
See guided tour of Aranjuez →Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in the old town?
The Plaza de Parejas, the bullring, the covered food market, the church of San Antonio and the enlightened streets of the 18th century.
Is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, it forms part of the Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez declared by UNESCO in 2001.