Spain Day 7: Aranjuez to Valencia

Our excellent accommodation in Aranjuez (NH Collection - great value, great location, great service! We would definitely recommend it) was conveniently located across the road from the attraction that had brought us to the town: the Palacio Real de Aranjuez.

Our accommodation for our night in Aranjuez... NH Collection. 

Palacio Real de Aranjuez

My mum used to love listening to the acoustic guitar version of Concierto de Aranjuez. So when I discovered this beautiful piece of music I grew up hearing was inspired by the gardens around the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, I was keen to see it in person. This palace was commissioned by Felipe II in the 16th century, but finished in the 18th century by Ferdinand VI.

The interior of the palace was incredibly detailed and wonderfully maintained as a museum. Unfortunately we were unable to take photos inside so had to content ourselves with purchasing a post-card as a momento.

The dining room of Palacio de Aranjuez

We spent awhile wandering the gardens immediately around the palace and walking through the 'Jardin de la Isla'.

We would have loved to have loved to have gone to the 'Jardin del Principe' which by all accounts is exquisite, but when we finally figured out where to find it, it was a bit out of the way and we needed to make tracks for Valencia. We stocked up with fresh supplies for sandwhiches for a lunch on the go and hit the road.

Huge wind-mills were a regular sight from the car across Spain,
and the stretch from Aranjuez/Madrid to Valencia was no exception.

We got into Valencia late afternoon but it took awhile to find somewhere to park and then find the apartment we had booked. While it probably would have been easier if we had just booked into a hotel, the private apartment we had found on booking.com ended up being really well equipped and very comfortable. We loved how it had been decorated and could have easily have spent longer there.

The gentlemen who met us to let us into the apartment suggested we headed up to the cathedral to have a look before it got dark, and also recommended where to grab a bite to eat. The cathedral was another beautiful display of gothic architecture, and it was also great to see the central plaza.

Al in the Plaza de la Virgen

After a delicious dinner of Paella Valenciana we made our way to a flamenco show. I had researched it before we had left Australia, and thank goodness I did as I'm not sure we would have just happened upon the place! And the show was well worth it... spectacular to see and absolutely enthralling someone like me who loves dance!!

Towards the end of the show, one of the guitar players treated us to a spanish guitar solo... a beautiful rendition of Concierto de Aranjuez. What a perfect way to tie together a great day :)

Day 8 next time x