What to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso

answer the question what to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso It is simple, since it is one of the most famous tourist places in Spain. As it happens with Aranjuez, bears the hallmark of Royal Site because it was a rest town for the monarchs, who were accompanied by a large part of the court.

For all these reasons, at La Granja you can visit imposing palaces, marvelous gardens, auxiliary houses and temples of magnificent architectural quality. And all framed by the no less spectacular nature of the mountains of Valsaín, In the Sierra de Guadarrama. If you want to discover what to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso, we encourage you to continue reading.

Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso

This imposing building was built by order of the king Philip V at the beginning of the XNUMXth century as a resting place for his hunting days. The project was carried out by the architect Theodore Ardemans, who was inspired by the Palace of Versailles. However, the central body of the façade was carried out by Philip Juvarra.

The palace, along with its annexed buildings, has a U-shaped plan and forms a whole with the gardens. We will talk about all this later. Also noteworthy are its two patios: that of the Horseshoe and that of the Cars, through which you will access the building. Already inside, you will appreciate a sumptuous decoration. Among the most outstanding rooms are the Throne room and japanese room. But it will also catch your attention Gallery of Statues, on the ground floor.

the palace gardens

As we told you, they make up a whole with the palace, which they surround. Its length is no less than 146 hectares including a forest space. But the gardens themselves were designed by the Gaul Rene Carlier, who was succeeded by his compatriot Stephen Boutelou. For this reason, they took the gardens of French style with elements of the Italians.

They also managed to integrate its streets and avenues perfectly into the surroundings of the Valsaín mountains. Likewise, to irrigate them, they created a pond in the upper part that, through a hydraulic system, sends the water to all corners of the gardens. Its pressure, in turn, creates beautiful water games.

But what stands out even more twenty-one monumental fountains that adorn it They were created by a group of sculptors among which were René Fermin, Hubert Demandre, John Thierry y Pedro Pitue. They are inspired by the classical mythology and include deities, allegories and scenes of that one. Likewise, at first it was thought to build them in bronze, but the excessive costs made lead used. As a sample of these sources, we will quote you those of Fame, the Horse Race, the Winds or the New Waterfall.

Finally, don't miss the labyrinth designed by The blond. But, along with the palace and gardens, there are other buildings that make up the Royal Site of San Ildefonso. We are going to talk about all of them.

Royal Collegiate Church of the Holy Trinity

Its design was also carried out by Theodore Ardemans, although it was completed by the Italians andrea procaccini y Sempronio Subissati. Answering to classic canonsThey created a building with beautiful towers and domes. It was built shortly after the palace to serve as the royal pantheon. In fact, they are buried there Philip V and his wife, Elizabeth of Farnese.

They were going to receive burial in the area called Chapel of the Relics, but, finally, they were arranged in a crypt behind the main altar. Inside the collegiate church, likewise, the paintings of Francisco Bayeu and, precisely, the altarpiece of the aforementioned altar, the work of Francisco Solimena, which represents the Holy Trinity. Your attention will also be drawn to the choir stalls and the royal tribune, which communicates with the palace and allowed the kings to follow the religious acts.

Children's House

Was built by Jose Diaz Gamones to house the retinue of the royal infants. It is a beautiful palace with a rectangular floor plan and three interior patios. Like almost all the constructions of La Granja, it responds to the neoclassical, although in this case with certain baroque reminiscences.

Their forms are sober, with a main façade with symmetrical openings and triangular pediments on the second floor. Similarly, the doorway is reduced to a hole with a lintel and pediment to finish it off. Finally, a granite cornice culminates this façade. It will not be difficult for you to visit this beauty, since, currently, it is tourist hostel.

Other constructions to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso

Along with all of the above, the palace complex is made up of other constructions to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso. Among these, the House of the Ladies, which was the first of trades that existed in the town and which was also used as accommodation by the kings in the XNUMXth century. Already at the beginning of the XNUMXth century it suffered a devastating fire, but it was rebuilt. Currently, you can see in it the impressive Tapestry Museum, which houses more than two thousand pieces, some of which are Flemish from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries.

You also have to see the building of the royal stables, also from the XVIII. It fulfilled the function indicated by its name and has a rectangular floor plan, with the façade facing the Plaza de España, in front of another interesting construction from the same period, the Corps Guards barracks. However, you will not be able to visit its interior because it is currently intended for private homes.

No less interest is the House of the Canons, built in the XNUMXth century to replace a previous one that was also destroyed by fire. It is due to the architect Isidro Velasco, who designed a neoclassical building with a square plan and four heights. Likewise, it is arranged around an interior patio with porticoed galleries and a fountain. Today it is used as an auditorium and theater. In addition, it is the headquarters of the Katarina Gurska Institute, a center dedicated to promoting new forms of artistic expression.

For its part, the House of Trades It dates from 1725, although it had to be rebuilt later due to another fire. Keep in mind that, at that time, much of the structure of the buildings was made of wood. Therefore, it was not strange that they burned easily. The restoration was due to the aforementioned Sempronio Subissati, who designed a rectangular silver construction with different heights depending on the facades and with three patios. Its function was to house the ministers offices, but, currently, it is also intended for housing.

The Royal Crystal Factory of La Granja

At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, San Ildefonso housed a glass factory that would become one of the most important in Europe. In fact, the greatest experts of his time worked on it, such as the Frenchman Dionysus Sibert or the German john eder. This is not small for a workshop that was originally created to supply the palace with crystals.

Its heyday came around 1770, when the building you can see today was built. This is a magnificent example of XNUMXth century industrial architecture and consists of a central nave with a barrel vault and two lateral ones in the shape of a cross. respond to neoclassical of its time and also has a large central patio. Outwardly, its south façade stands out with transepts and a dome adorned with polygonal domes.

The design of this great building of 178 by 132 meters was carried out by the aforementioned Jose Diaz Gamones, although its eastern part is attributed to Juan de Villanueva. It had the factory itself, a lumber warehouse and housing for the workers. Currently, you can visit a magnificent Glass museum.

Other churches to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso

But what to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso does not end with the palace and its dependencies. This small town in the province of Segovia It also has other beautiful temples. It is the case of the church of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is Baroque in style and has a rectangular plan and a single nave with side chapels. Inside, it houses a precious carving of the Virgen de los Dolores, the work of Luis Salvador Carmona.

We also advise you to visit the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, neoclassical with Baroque reminiscences and which, likewise, has a carving of Christ by the aforementioned Carmona; that of Saint Elizabeth, with its Mudejar elements, and the Chapel of Saint John Nepomuk, which dates from the late XNUMXth century and stands out for its sobriety.

Bauer House and Riofrío Palace

We finish our tour of what to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso in these two buildings. The first is a stately palace due to Jose Diaz Gamones, whom we have already cited several times. presents neoclassical features, although its curved corner is reminiscent of the Baroque. The entire building is articulated around a central patio and receives its name from Ignatius Bauer, who bought it in the XNUMXth century and endowed it with the beautiful gardens that you can still see today.

In turn, the Riofrio Palace It is not located in San Ildefonso, but about seven miles away. It is a construction of Italian style designed by Virgilio Rabaglio at the request of Elizabeth of Farnese. Its large dimensions and its square floor plan will catch your attention. It also has annexed buildings, among which the chapelespecially luxurious.

In conclusion, we have tried to summarize everything What to see in La Granja de San Ildefonso. It is one of the most beautiful towns in the province of Segovia, but you can also enjoy its wonderful natural environment, with places like the big jet, Pena Berruecos, Cambrones River Boilers or Path of the Royal Sites to Valsaín. Dare to know this unique place.