The city of Aranjuez is divided in the following districts: Centre, Vergel, Olivas, Aves, New Aranjuez, Foso, Moreras and The Mountain. Since 2003 Aranjuez is governed by Jesús Miguel Dionisio Ballesteros, from Socialist Party.
Economy
The main pillars for the local economy are hotels and tourism. Aranjuez has always been an attractive city for tourists thanks to, among other reasons, the Royal Palace, the gardens, the Tagus river and the kindness of the climate and the landscapes. In 2001 this city was awarded as World Heritage Cultural Landscape by Unesco, and since then, tourism has kept on increasing. Much money was spent in order to beautify Aranjuez and many pubs and restaurants were opened (from 2001 to 2004 their amount has increased 22%). In 2005 a great casino was opened in the city and in 2007 the so-called Tagus Hospital should be finished.
Agriculture: Aranjuez is located in the fertile plain of the Tagus river, so it has an adequate ground for the cultivation of wheat and other cereals. There are also horticulture plantations (asparagus and strawberries), both irrigated and dry products, vines and melons, which are also typical of the neighbour region of Castilla-La Mancha.
Industry: The closeness to Madrid and the good communications by road and railways make Aranjuez an adequate place for the settlement of several industries: detergents, mechanical constructions, computer and electrical material, photographic materials, pharmaceutical products, paints and varnishes, sugar refineries, oil mills.
In the last decades the sugar refinery and the Agfa photographic factory have been closed. As a compensation, the Cortefiel textile mill plans to build a factury in Aranjuez in the following years.
The majority of the industries are located westward the railway station, as well as in the "Gonzalo Chacón" industrial park, in the south. The current existing industries are:
The city has always been link to the Tagus river, so that water sports have a great tradition, such as canoeing or rowing. In the olympic candidature of Madrid for the 2012 Olympics, which will be held finally in London, Aranjuez was the selected site for these sports. Anyhow, there are plans to continue the construction of the necessary sport facilities, which should be finished by 2010.
Aranjuez has a football team, Real Aranjuez C.F., which plays in the Local Stadium, called "El Deleite".
History
There are several theories about the origin of the name. The most accepted one states that it comes from Basque language. It derived from (hawthorne in English), Aran (meaning valley or plum in English). The old name of the city was Aranz. During the Middle Ages, the city was known as Aranzueque or Arançuex until it became Aranjuez. Other theories say that it comes from LatinAra Jovis or Ara Iovia, which means Jupiter's Altar, but currently the Pre-Roman name is preferred.
Middle Ages: incorporation into Saint James' Order.
1851: Opening of the railway line between Madrid and Aranjuez, the so-called Strawberry Train. This is the second railway line in Spain, after that of Barcelona-Mataró (1848).
Charles III's Royal Theatre (to be restaured, currently in ruins).
Supply Market.
Plaza de Toros and Bullfighting Museum "Una Gran Fiesta".
Medinaceli Palace.
Governor's House (currently University of High Studies Centre Phillip II).
Mother Queen's old garage, today cultural centre "Isabel de Farnesio".
Typical corralas.
Godoy and Osuna's Palaces.
Bavaria's Palace (also known as Silvela's Palace).
Centre of Interpretation of the Natural Reserve "El Regajal-Mar de Ontígola".
Historical sotos.
Royal Country Estate of Saint Isidro.
Hotels:
Hotel Barceló (*****), Unesco Sq., 2.
Hotel NH Príncipe de la Paz (****), San Antonio St., 22.
Hotel Egido Don Manuel (***), Príncipe St., 71.
Hotel Mercedes (***), Road to Madrid, 12.
Hotel Doña Francisca (***), Capitán St., 147.
Hotel Jardín de Aranjuez (***), Príncipe St., 26.
Hotel Real Sitio de Aranjuez (***). Infantas St., 15.
Hotel El Cocherón 1919 (***). Montesinos St., 22.
Hostal Castilla (**). Road to Andalusia, 98.
Hostal Infantas (**). Infantas St., n 4.
Hostal Rusiñol (*). San Antonio St., 76.
Hostal Santa Marta (*). Infantas St., 19.
Camping site Soto del Castillo (*). Old N-IV (Road Madrid-Cádiz), km 46.8.
Country house "Casa La Vega", Road to Colmenar de Oreja, km 9.
Country house "Finca Pico Vivero", Road to Chinchón, km 5.
Culture
Traditions:
In summer it is accustomed to have dinner in the picnic areas next to the Tagus river. These places are called gangos, which is a Spanish word only used in Aranjuez.
