Madrid

This is the visit to the curious Falúas Reales museum in Aranjuez

Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez
Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez

One of the most interesting visits in the surroundings of MadridAre the Gardens of Aranjuez, which have given so much fame to this town located south of the capital.

And an interesting corner that you can see during your tour of this natural area that runs along the banks of the tagus river, specifically for the Prince Garden, is the Museum of the Royal Falúas.

Right next to the Tagus River Pier, a place that was used by the king Ferdinand VII As a starting point for your trips sailing along the river, you find a small and modern building that houses this very curious museum which is worth visiting.

What is a felucca

¿What is a felucca? This is the name given to small sailing boats, with capacity for up to twelve people, with the sail mast inclined towards the bow, which are common in the Middle East and North Africa.

Remember the characteristic image of a felucca sailing through the Nile river.

What to see when visiting the Royal Falúas Museum

In this Aranjuez museum You can see several boats from different periods, which were used by Kings of Spain to navigate not only the tagus river, but also in other places such as the pond of the Buen Retiro Garden en Madrid.

What will catch your attention the most royal feluccas is its very baroque decoration, which even includes type paintings. Pompeian frescoes.

Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez
Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez

You will see these paintings on the felucca from the early 19th century that he used María Cristina de Borbón, wife of king Ferdinand VII, which incorporates a pavilion in the shape of a temple, decorated with golden garlands, and which on its stern has figures of mermaids holding the royal shield.

On the interior ceiling of said pavilion you can see the aforementioned Pompeian style paintings.

However, the oldest and most spectacular of the falúas What you are going to see is the one that was used by Philip IV In XVII century.

Built in Naples, she sailed on the aforementioned Buen Retiro pond, and from 1724 he was in the Farm Palace.

This felucca incorporates a golden decoration, also very baroque.

Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez
Museum of Royal Falúas in Aranjuez

At Royal Barge Museum You also have a boat from the early 19th century, belonging to Charles IV, and manufactured in Cartagena.

And also a felucca of Isabel II, 15 meters long, with a pavilion with striking hangings and the interior decorated with mahogany wood.

Finally, I highlight the felucca of Alfonso XII, gifted by The Ferrol in 1879. With 14 oars, the king used it during his summers in San Sebastián.

Visiting hours of the Royal Falúas Museum

The Visiting hours of the Royal Falúas museum of Aranjuez They are every day, from April to September, from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m., with last access one hour before, and from October to March, from 10 a.m. to 18 p.m.

On Mondays the museum is closed to visitors.

Ticket prices for the Royal Feluccas Museum

The ticket prices It's 9 euros for the basic one, and 4 euros for the reduced one, and you can visit the Royal Falúas museum for free on Wednesdays and Sundays, from 15 p.m.

This ticket allows you to also visit the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, court museum and Labrador House.

In addition, tickets to the falúa museum must be purchased at the Royal Palace ticket office. Here you can check if you have the right to reduced or free entry.

About the Author

José Luis Sarralde

Journalist and traveler throughout his life, José Luis Sarralde is the founder of Guías Viajar, where since 2008 he has been capturing his travel experiences around the world, specializing in cultural and scenic destinations in Spain and Europe.

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  • I transcribe below a paragraph from the “Verissisima report of the entry of our lord King Philip 4th, may God preserve, in Doñana, the island home of the Duke of Medina Sidonia…”
    His Majesty left for Cádiz on March 20, and even embarked on the Galera (which is now real) that was with nine others, at the exit of the bar, and it was on a Falúa that Mr. Don Fabrique de Toledo sent, all gold curd.

  • The golden felucca that is today in the Aranjuez Museum, and that was transferred to the Granja in 1624, was in all probability the same one used by King Felipe IV during the Andalusian journey of 1624, precisely in the transfer from the Port of Santa María to embark on the royal galley that would take him to Cádiz on March 20, 1624.

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