Palacio Real de Riofrío
Encyclopedia
The Royal Palace of Riofrío is one of the residences of the Spanish Royal Family
and under the management of the Patrimonio Nacional
, a government initiative dedicated to the care and maintenance of properties owned by the Spanish state which are used by the royals. Situated in the municipality of San Ildefonso
, in the province of Segovia, central Spain
, the building is set in a wooded deer-park.
being succeeded by Ferdinand VI, her step-son. As such, to ensure that Elisabeth would remain away from the court, King Ferdinand VI agreed to the construction of a palace
at Riofrío
for the her own disposal. During the reign of her step-son, the queen resided at the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
Built in an enclave of the town of San Ildefonso
in Segovia
, it is some 11 miles from the town that gives its name to the municipality
. It is close to the towns of Navas de Riofrío
and La Losa
. The palace was designed in the Italian
style, echoing Elisabeth's birth in the Duchy of Parma
, norther Italy. It was designed with a central square and was given three stories high, designed by architect Virgilio Rabaglio, himself Italian
. Rabaglio was responsible for the exterior decoration Sexmini Pedro, making it one of the most influential Italian palaces of all time. The palace is often likened to its counterpart, the Royal Palace of Madrid
, official residence of the Spanish royals.
The dowager queen had wanted her son, then King Carlo VIII of Naples
to succeed the Spanish throne. However, before the works were completed, King Ferdinand VI died childless in August 1759 and was thus succeeded by King Carlo VIII, who was recognised as King Carlos III of Spain. Elisabeth was created regent till her sons arrival in Spain and subsequently resided at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, dying there in 1766 having never lived at Riofrío. Elisabeth had succeeded in placing four of her children on thrones and intended to give the property to her youngest son the Count of Chinchón, however he did not use it.
Having been abbandoned, it was completed as a hunting lodge and was only used when royals hunted in the nearby forests. Queen Maria Josepha of Saxony
resided there to avoid the courts disapproval of her childless marriage to King Ferdinand VII. The palace was also used by King Francisco, consort of Queen Isabel II to avoid his wife and used later still by King Alfonso XII
, who resided there while mourning his beloved wife Queen Maria de las Mercedes
. Points of interest within the palace include the patio addition, grand staircase, chapel along with its collection of paintings, tapestries and furniture. It is surrounded by a vast forest of 625 hectares, home to deer among other animals. Today Riofrío is the home of a museum dedicated to the history of hunting.
Spanish Royal Family
The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbón...
and under the management of the Patrimonio Nacional
Patrimonio Nacional
The Consejo de Administración del Patrimonio Nacional is a Spanish state agency, under the jurisdiction of the Minister of the Presidency by delegation of the Prime Minister of Spain, that administers the sites owned by the Spanish...
, a government initiative dedicated to the care and maintenance of properties owned by the Spanish state which are used by the royals. Situated in the municipality of San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso, or La Granja, or La Granja de San Ildefonso, is a town and municipality in the province of Segovia, Spain, situated some 54 km northwest of Madrid.-History:...
, in the province of Segovia, central Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the building is set in a wooded deer-park.
History
Queen Elisabeth Farnese was widowed in 1746, her husband King Philip VPhilip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
being succeeded by Ferdinand VI, her step-son. As such, to ensure that Elisabeth would remain away from the court, King Ferdinand VI agreed to the construction of a palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
at Riofrío
Riofrío
Riofrío is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 325 inhabitants....
for the her own disposal. During the reign of her step-son, the queen resided at the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
Built in an enclave of the town of San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso
San Ildefonso, or La Granja, or La Granja de San Ildefonso, is a town and municipality in the province of Segovia, Spain, situated some 54 km northwest of Madrid.-History:...
in Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
, it is some 11 miles from the town that gives its name to the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
. It is close to the towns of Navas de Riofrío
Navas de Riofrío
-See also:*Royal Palace of Riofrío...
and La Losa
La Losa
La Losa is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 445 inhabitants....
. The palace was designed in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
style, echoing Elisabeth's birth in the Duchy of Parma
Duchy of Parma
The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma....
, norther Italy. It was designed with a central square and was given three stories high, designed by architect Virgilio Rabaglio, himself Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
. Rabaglio was responsible for the exterior decoration Sexmini Pedro, making it one of the most influential Italian palaces of all time. The palace is often likened to its counterpart, the Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
The Palacio Real de Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid...
, official residence of the Spanish royals.
The dowager queen had wanted her son, then King Carlo VIII of Naples
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
to succeed the Spanish throne. However, before the works were completed, King Ferdinand VI died childless in August 1759 and was thus succeeded by King Carlo VIII, who was recognised as King Carlos III of Spain. Elisabeth was created regent till her sons arrival in Spain and subsequently resided at the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, dying there in 1766 having never lived at Riofrío. Elisabeth had succeeded in placing four of her children on thrones and intended to give the property to her youngest son the Count of Chinchón, however he did not use it.
Having been abbandoned, it was completed as a hunting lodge and was only used when royals hunted in the nearby forests. Queen Maria Josepha of Saxony
Maria Josepha of Saxony
Maria Josepha of Saxony was Queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Ferdinand VII of Spain...
resided there to avoid the courts disapproval of her childless marriage to King Ferdinand VII. The palace was also used by King Francisco, consort of Queen Isabel II to avoid his wife and used later still by King Alfonso XII
Alfonso XII of Spain
Alfonso XII was king of Spain, reigning from 1874 to 1885, after a coup d'état restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic.-Early life and paternity:Alfonso was the son of Queen Isabella II of Spain, and...
, who resided there while mourning his beloved wife Queen Maria de las Mercedes
Mercedes of Orléans
Maria de la Mercedes of Orléans was Queen Consort of Spain, the first wife of Alfonso XII. She was born in Madrid, Spain, the daughter of Antoine of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier and of Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain....
. Points of interest within the palace include the patio addition, grand staircase, chapel along with its collection of paintings, tapestries and furniture. It is surrounded by a vast forest of 625 hectares, home to deer among other animals. Today Riofrío is the home of a museum dedicated to the history of hunting.