Historical background

Island Garden

This garden is a good example of the Renaissance idea of recreating Paradise in Earth. The control of the rivers through dams and channels to prevent floods; the gardening intervention of nature creating drawings, paths and alignments with natural elements, trees and other plants; exotic animals from the confines of King Phillip II’s empire such as camels, peacocks, ostriches, swans, deers, horses, exotic birds; sculptural compositions of the fountains inspired by classical mythology... All aiming to recreate Eden

It was King Charles I in the early 16th century who decided to build a Spring residence in Aranjuez. His son, King Phillip II, even when still a Prince, started the works of urban planning, agriculture and irrigation of the garden itself and its surroundings. Gaspar de Vega and Alonso de Cobarruvias first, and Architects Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera later, were in charge of the works and the geometrical design of the garden and the groves around it. The island Garden was thought to be both a leisure area and agricultural experimentation lab.

Vegetal and marble constructions were included in the design, reminiscing to the idea of Heaven in Earth, ordered under-control nature, a manifest of Royal Power over Nature, indeed. Later, in the early 18th century, the Garden of the Parterre was integrated in the set of the Island Garden during the reign of king Phillip V as a French garden full of geometrical designs and large flower plantations, although it was subsequently modified by Fernando VI, Carlos IV and Isabel II to get to its current configuration. These modifications consisted mainly on sculptural works of great significance such as the fountain of Ceres or the Fountain of Hercules and Anteo.

Prince's Gardens

Its construction started under the orders of Charles III at the end of XVIII Century by initiative of the still prince, Charles IV. It is for this reason that it takes the name of Prince’s Garden. It was laid out over some ancient orchards belonging to the Crown since the 16th century, so called the Spring orchards and gardens in the times of Ferdinand VI.

Juan de Villanueva, the Royal Architect was in charge of the works during the Reign of Charles III. He is responsible of the construction of Chinescos Pond, the Russian Mountain and the Casa del Labrador Palace.

There are some preexisting relevant places in this garden, where some royal activities were carried out along time in Aranjuez. There is a Royal Dock, built during the reign of Ferdinand VI, next to the current Museum of Royal Falúas (built in 1963), with a collection of boats of La Escuadra del Tajo ( set of royal boats commanded by the King’s falúa) that were used by the Royalty and its Court to pretend navy fights in Tagus River and for leisure activities in the river, as well. It is also well known that famous castrati opera singer Farenelli interpreted his musical pieces in the Royal Spring Days of Aranjuez during these boat rides in times of the reign of Phillip V.

But the relevance of this garden as a set of nine gardens and orchards started in the late XVIIIth century when Prince Charles (future King Charles IV) decided to create this new space following the English gardening style incorporating these ancient constructions and gardens into a unique composition of paths, plants, fountains, sculptures and palatine buildings such as La Casa del Labrador.