Main Facade of Saint Isidro Church. This church is located in the centre of this small urban complex that currently serves as a place of recreation for visitors and citizens of Aranjuez in a rural and agricultural environment.

Cortijo de San Isidro

The Cortijo de San Isidro is a hamlet within the municipal boundaries of Aranjuez. The complex is made up of several dwellings and outbuildings next to a large farmland. This colony was a project promoted in 1766 by Charles III as a model of agricultural exploitation at the time.

Since 1766, the first settlers began to arrive to cultivate the land and take care of the cattle. The monarch put into practice a system that would combine the agricultural industry of the illustrated stage with the desire to use natural environments.

The ministers, Grimaldi and Floridablanca, were the forerunners of the Real Cortijo. The main buildings, the Casa Grande, the Bodega, the Cave, the Chapel and the Plaza del Pozo are still standing in this Real Cortijo, being this the busiest area of the cortijo.

Aerial view of Cortijo de San Isidro – © Real Cortijo de San Isidro

The architectural complex was built by Manuel Serrano in the 1770s, although it was later completed by Manuel Oliva. Carlos III as an enlightened ruler promoted reforms to create a garden and an arbor. However, although the plans are preserved, there are no such places because his son Carlos IV, neglected the farmhouse that fell into decline.

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