page_title: Royal Palace of Aranjuez
section_title: Plaza de Parejas
hierarchical_section_title: Royal Palace of Aranjuez / Design / Plaza de Parejas
context_page_description: The Royal Palace of Aranjuez is a former Spanish royal residence. It is located 50 km south of Madrid in the town of Aranjuez.
  It was established around the time Philip II of Spain moved the capital from Toledo to Madrid. Aranjuez became one of four seasonal seats of government, occupied during the springtime. Thereafter, the court moved successively to Rascafría, El Escorial and wintered in Madrid.
  Several international treaties were signed there and several members of the royal family died there, including:
  1568 Elizabeth of Valois queen consort of Philip II
  1758 Barbara of Portugal queen consort of Ferdinand VI
  1766 Elisabeth Farnese the widow of Philip V
  1806 Maria Antonia of Naples first wife of Ferdinand VII the Felon
  1818 Maria Isabel of Portugal second wife of Ferdinand VII
  1828 Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony third wife of Ferdinand VII
  In 1931, during the Second Spanish Republic, the area was declared an Artistic Historical Monument and opened to the public. The palace, gardens and associated buildings are part of the Aranjuez Cultural Landscape, which was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Cultural Organization in 2001.
context_section_description: The south of the palace is a large open square known as Plaza de las Parejas in reference to equestrian events formerly held there. (The nobility competed or paraded in pairs or parejas).
  It is defined on the east by a Renaissance-style two-story building, which was the auxiliary dependence of the palace (Casa de Caballeros y Oficios - now the local law courts and tax offices). To the west a warehouse area, servant halls and (after the fire) a separate kitchen-house (Casa de Fogones). In front - facing the palace (later a hotel) is the Casa del Principe de Paz, intended to be the residence of Manuel Godoy.
  The palace consists of two floors. The ground level is lit by windows crowned by semicircular arches, while the upper floor opens onto balconies with iron railings. The central body of the palace rises to a third level surmounted by a pediment bearing the shield of Ferdinand VI. At the sides of the shield are engraved two inscriptions. The left one reads "Philippus II / Institvit / Philippus V / provexit" (initiated by Philip II and continued by Philip V). The right one reads " Ferdinandu / VI Pius Felix / Consummavit / An MDCCLII" (Completed in 1752 by the faithful and devout Ferdinand VI).
caption: Las parejas reales (an equestrian festival held outside the palace) by Luis Paret y Alcázar in 1770. Currently in Museo del Prado.
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