Royal Palace, Aranjuez Palacio Real

The Royal Palace in Aranjuez was begun in 1560 at the behest of Philip II. The original architect was Juan Bautista de Toledo, who was also the first architect of the Escorial. The work was continued by Juan de Herrera, who gave the palace the classical austerity characteristic of his style. The palace was twice destroyed by fire, in 1660 and again in 1665, but each time Philip had it rebuilt. In the reign of the Bourbon king Charles III, who enlarged and planned the town on the rationalist principles of the Enlightenment, Francesco Sabatini added two projecting side wings to the palace, forming a spacious parade ground. The main front is in Herrera's Renaissance style, but the Baroque influences of his successors are very evident.