san ildefonso o la granja

Great visit but it is not Versailles pleasant way to spend an afternoon See the gardens and the review I wrote

Envy sometimes produces great works of art... and here is a great example. This Bourbonesque palace is a must visit in the summer, on a wednesday when the fountains are on... it is gorgeous. Cheap to get their from Segovia. And a nice time to spend in the town. The price of entrance is a bit steep but worthwhile if the fountains are going to be on that day or whenever you decide to go in May, June, and July. I don't know throughout the year but seeing them on and getting drenched is part of the fun.

We recommend this little town, it is easy to reach - parking is good - not too touristy with an excellent historical feel.

This small interesting town surrounds the Royal Palace and gardens. The town originally housed the staff who worked in and around the Palace and gardens and there is still a working glass factory here. It was shut the day we visited. The town is small but interesting to walk around but most pathways lead to the beautiful Royal Palace which is a must to visit.

A few miles away from the town of Segovia, the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso is a beautiful palace and gardens and definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Inside the castle is the most impressive display of tapestries you will ever see, with many tapestries 20 FEET (or more!!) in length.The rooms are as beautiful and ornate as one would expect of someone that had grown up at Versailles. A palace built for retirement but renovated to hold royal court has all the gold, marble and gilding that are de rigueur for such a place.In addition to a stunning palace, equally as impressive are the gardens and fountains that surround the palace. Planned like something you would see from an English manor home there are different areas within the gardens that showcase different fountains each with nymphs, dragons, horses or other beautiful sculptures. All the fountains are turned on during specific days/events in the summer.Up the hill at the back of the gardens is a peaceful lake that was built to supply water to the fountains in the summer. The lake is serene, not very frequented and in the spring time has the snow covered mountains as a backdrop. I even know a couple that got engaged by that lake.If anywhere near here, El Escorial, Segovia, Madrid or driving up to the northwest of Spain, the palace and gardens at San Ildefonso o La Granja is well worth the visit.

The Royal Palace of La Granja is a very beautiful palace. We took the audio guide that explained all the rooms that can be seen in the palace. The tapestries were some of the best we have seen. The rooms of the palace had many beautiful paintings, furnishings and porcelain and ceramic vases from China and Japan. The gardens were also very beautiful.

We stopped here on our way from Segovia to Leon and were happy we did. We did not go into the palace but walked through quite a lot of the gardens. Even without the water turned on (which is only done once in a while) the fountains are magnificent, and the grounds are lovely. We managed to be there early enough that very few people were around.

there is a nice castle in the center of the villa that is very good on tapestries. The collection was restored and is really beautifull. They came from the queen Isabel collection and other spanish nobles. the guided visit is very good.

On our way from toledo to Segovia we just happened to stop at San Ildefonso. A lovely town, well manicured and simply laid out. We enjoyed walking around and came across the Real Sitio (royal palace) there was a €9 fee for entry inside Palace but the grounds were just open to the public at no charge. The gardens were excellent, varied, easy to navigate and adorned with sculptures and mountain views and views of palace at every turn. We had a leisurely hour and half strolling around taking photos. Good toilet facilities. A town worth stopping off and spending an hour or two between bigger towns. Even consider days trip out from Madrid

Some of the greatest culinary experiences in spanish cuisine are found here. Beautiful village. A short drive downhill from Segovia.

We only went around the formal gardens briefly as on the day we visited - Tuesday - the fountains were turned off, as were we!However this should not detract others. Just check which days the fountains are working and I'm sure you'll enjoy their splendour

We faced a day of rain storms in Segiovia in July, deserted the pool and drove the short distance to this jewel. The whole town in charming and the Parador looked like a great place to stay, but the visit to this Bourbon summer palace was special. We were so lucky it was Sunday and between 12.00 and 14.00 they were going to trun on some of the 26 fountains built to copy Versailles.The gardens themselves are worth visiting and the Chateau is impressive, but do try and go on a day when the fountains will be turned on. There are 3 days a year when they run the whole lot! We had 5 or 6. The variety and grandeur of these fountains and their engineering from a lake in the nearby Sierra are to be seen. Be warned the pressure on most starts low and goes to heights you may not expect - you could be showered inadvertently. You follow a guy round with a marker and do keep up with the pack to get the best viewing point for the next fountain.

San idelfonso was the summer Palace of the Bourbons and is one of the least visited of the royal palaces. It's about 10 minutes by car from Segovia and about an hour from Escorial. Inside the Royal Palace is more muted than Escorial but still worth the visit but everyone comes for the spectacular gardens. These were designed in the 18 C and have a series of canals and forested areas with ornamental fountains ( in fact fountains are everywhere). This is the place to wander, to enjoy the sounds of leaves and the wind and to imagine candlelit nights and fiestas.With the 9 Euros entry fee

A beautiful palace and the gardens are humongous. The tour only goes through a small part of the palace but a lot of what makes San Ildefonso amazing are it's gardens. They have some of the most beautiful water fountains and there are water show's that go on. On a hot day perfect to go and cool down with the water from the fountains.

This is a quick and easy drive from Segovia and a wonderful day trip! The palace is gorgeous and fun to explore. Every room has something beautiful to see and each ceiling tells a detailed story. We were here in April before the flowers were blooming, but I'm sure the gardens and grounds are even more fantastic then. Well worth a day trip!