SPAIN 



Aranjuez 



ROYAL PALACE of Aranjuez (Pro- 

 * vince of Madrid), on the banks of the 

 Tagus and Jarama, was formerly the favourite 

 spring residence of the Spanish monarchs, andis 

 still visited occasionally for short periods by the 

 King and Queen. The palace was built by 

 Philip II, as was also the lovely Island Garden 

 (Jardin de la Isla) in the Tagus, where the 

 principal scenes of Schiller's drama, " Don 

 Carlos," are laid. Schiller says, " Die schonen 

 Tage in Aranjuez sind nun zu Ende" But 

 although its gayest days seem over, its romantic 

 beauty remains. The gardens and grounds are 

 in French style, with clipped box edges, statues, 

 fountains, and a profusion of roses unequalled in 

 their beauty and luxuriance. One of the finest 

 of the fountains is " El Fuente de Hercules," 

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