Circa Tours - Garden and Castle Tours in Spain

Madrid Royal Palaces and Castles
The "pomp and circumstance" of royal Spain

The splendor of royal Spain is at its best in Madrid and the surrounding area. A few day trips from the capital city will give you a good overview of the major palaces and gardens.

Garden and palace tours around Madrid

The palace of Aranjuez, a grandiose summer castle that is one of the residences of the King of Spain and a World Heritage Site, is only a short drive south of Madrid. There you can enjoy the colorful gardens and some of the best Baroque and Renaissance architecture in Spain. These huge gardens are the country's most important of the Hapsburg period.

To the north, near Segovia, is the royal residence of La Granja de San Ildefonso. This charming castle hidden in the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama has ornate gardens reminiscent of those at the palace of Versailles in France. The formal layout of the park is dotted with dozens of sculptures, cascades and unique fountains featuring an unusual style of lead statuary painted in a bronze color.

In Madrid, the sumptuous Royal Palace, the residence of the Bourbon dynasty from the 18th century until 1931, is not to be missed, of course. But the capital city is also home to several world-class museums. You can spend hours at El Prado Museum, Spain's crown jewel, studying and admiring some of the most beautiful art in the world: paintings by Velasquez, Goya, El Greco, Rubens and many others. Then, walk across the street to the classical and impressionist collections of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. And further down the street, stop to tour the Reina Sofía Modern Art Museum to see the works of Salvador Dali, Joan Miró and the master himself, Pablo Picasso. The "Guernica" room always has a crowd standing in front of the famous Spanish Civil War painting.

For nature lovers, a leisurely stroll around the gardens of the Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace is a must. The Botanical Gardens are nearby. So take time for a short tour and admire their natural beauty.

There are more places to visit on this tour, of course: the Fountain of the Cibeles, the Alcalá Gate etc. But there is nothing like sitting at an outdoor cafe at the Plaza Mayor and watching the world go by.

Please tell us where and when you want to travel and we will create a custom tour that fits your specific interests, schedule and budget.

Your tailor-made package will include ground transportation, guided tours and hotel rooms.

The price of your program will depend on your needs (scheduled group tours, private guides...) and the number of participants in your group, the length of the trip, the category of hotels, the number of places visited, the time of year, etc.

We will do all the bookings and pay each individual provider on your behalf. In other words, you go and have fun and we'll take care of the details for you.

Personalized Tours in France, Spain and Portugal

Madrid Royal Palaces and Castles