RODAJES EN ESPACIOS DE PATRIMONIO NACIONAL

Nine kilometres from Segovia and 15 kilometres from La Granja, the Royal Palace of Riofrío stands majestically on a hill. Philip V bought the first plots of land in 1724, but it was his widow, Isabella Farnese, who gave orders for a palace to be built there for hunting and as a place of retirement. To get there, visitors must cross its forest, an important ecological reserve of holm oaks, ashes and junipers inhabited by more than 100 listed animal species such as red deer, fallow deer and vultures. Viewed from a distance, the palace is a breathtaking sight with its pink walls and crowning pinnacles.  Inside, it is notable for its fine-wood furnishings, mirrors and porcelain, and sweeping curtains, among other features. A recent programme undertaken by Patrimonio Nacional to enrich and restore the palace to its historical appearance has made it possible to largely recover the rooms’ nineteenth-century decoration and uses.  Riofrío has welcomed numerous productions, such as the series ‘La Cocinera de Castamar’ and the film ‘Juana de Vega’.    

Viewing it from a distance, visitors can appreciate why this monastery was dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World. Its size and the purity and sobriety of its design embody the ideological and cultural aspirations of the Spanish Golden Age. It was the most important brainchild of the most important king of his time: Philip II. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Its austere grandeur never ceases to impress visitors from the moment they step inside. In the centre stands the basilica, an icon of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Across from the Courtyard of Kings is the Royal Library, with a long, vaulted ceiling painted by Tibaldi. Another large vault, decorated by Giordano, is a surprising sight on the way to the Chapter Rooms. Paintings by Titian, Velázquez and El Greco are displayed there... But this is only the beginning – there are still the cosy Casitas de Campo and their gardens to visit. The Royal Monastery has been the setting for films such as ‘La Conjura de El Escorial’ and ‘La princesa de Éboli’.    

Few Royal Sites combine so much beauty, history and nature in a location so close to the Spanish capital. El Pardo’s origins as a royal hunting ground have been linked to the woodlands with the same name since the Middle Ages Spanning more than 15,000 hectares, they are considered the most important Mediterranean forest in the Madrid Region.  The core element of this historic complex is the Royal Palace. Salient features of its interior are the Goya Room with its tapestries by the famous Aragonese artist; the Mirror Room, with its original decoration; and the Theatre, which was converted into a cinema in the twentieth century. The Royal Site of El Pardo also comprises two smaller palaces: the Casita del Príncipe, designed by Juan de Villanueva, architect of the Museo del Prado; and the Quinta del Duque del Arco, notable for its similarities with the palace of La Zarzuela and its elegant gardens. The Royal Palace has been the setting for TV series such as ‘Cuéntame cómo pasó’, while  ‘La Cocinera de Castamar’ and ‘Lo que escondían sus ojos’ were filmed at the Quinta del Duque.    

Philip V personally masterminded the creation of this Royal Site. The king fell in love with this beautiful place back in 1717 while escaping the stifling heat of Madrid. He decided to have a palace built there with huge gardens adorned with sculptures and monumental fountains to remind him of his childhood at the French court of his grandfather, the Sun King.  Three centuries on, La Granja continues to amaze visitors. Some of the notable parts of this historic complex are the palace and its fascinating interiors, such as the Marble Room, the Mirror Room and the Tapestry Museum. But the real highlights are the gardens and the spectacular water features of the fountains, which draw tens of thousands of visitors every summer. Its eighteenth-century hydraulic system is unique in the world, with water jets that reach a height of almost 50 metres, without the aid of motors. Series such as ‘El Ministerio del Tiempo’ and ‘Reinas’ have been filmed in this location.

The architecture of La Almudaina, together with that of the cathedral, is the most commonly photographed aspect of Palma de Mallorca. The walls and barbican towers of La Almudaina, built on the remains of a citadel, bear witness to the island's Arab past. In the shade of the palm trees of the forecourt, a white marble lion above a geometric fountain is a reminder of the complex’s Muslim origins. Designated a Cultural Heritage Asset in 1931, this imposing fourteenth-century building is the official summer residence of the Royal Family in Palma. In addition to the Arab baths, the most representative room in the Palace is the Main Hall, with its beautiful row of pointed arches. The Royal Chapel of Santa Ana likewise attests to its numerous refurbishments with Gothic influences. Documentaries such as ‘Piratas de las Islas Baleares’ and ‘La Roca en el mar. Aragón en el Mediterráneo 1137−1412’ have been filmed in the Royal Palace of La Almudaina.          

Despite having the whole world at his disposal, Charles I of Spain and V of Germany chose the district of La Vera in Cáceres as his place of retirement. Weak and in ill health, he set off determinedly from Brussels on a taxing journey lasting several months to die in this small Hieronymite monastery built in the early fifteenth century. The sober and austere architecture of its church and its two Gothic and Renaissance cloisters did not disappoint the emperor. But Yuste is more than just a monastery. Its Royal Apartments were built according to the king's instructions. Beneath the windows is the orchard, with a large pond that was used for irrigation and for fishing by the retired monarch. Patrimonio Nacional recently set up a lookout point here for visitors to view in all its splendour the balcony where the king appeared each morning to be greeted. The Monastery of Yuste has been a setting for TV series such as ‘Carlos, Rey Emperador’ and programmes like ‘MasterChef’.          

The oldest historic site in the care of Patrimonio Nacional is located in Las Huelgas del Rey, in the province of Burgos. It is an essential stopover on the Pilgrim's Route to Santiago de Compostela. A church, cloisters, chapels and gardens make up the main convent of Cistercian nuns in Spain, who owe obedience solely to the Pope in Rome. Between battles, future kings were knighted at Las Huelgas. The founding monarchs, Alfonso VIII and his wife Eleonor, also conceived it as a royal mausoleum with magnificent tombs. Today, more than 800 years later, the perfect harmony of periods and styles can be admired in the walls of Las Huelgas. Arresting Mudejar plasterwork vaults coexist alongside sober Romanesque arches and ambitious Gothic ornamentation. The experience is rounded off by a visit to the Museum of Medieval Textiles, which preserves the original banner of Las Navas de Tolosa, the battle that marked the decline of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula in 1212.          

On the banks of the Duero River stands one of the most important monuments dating from the transition to the Modern Age and one of the finest examples of Mudejar architecture in Castile and León. On the façade, two tombstones remind us of its origin as a tribute to the decisive Battle of Salado. With the spoils, Alfonso XI gave orders for a large building to be constructed with the classical structure of Muslim palaces. It was later transformed into a convent, a function it retains today. The Christian monarchs expressed their admiration for the sophistication of Muslim architecture here, as attested by the baths, the Arab Courtyard and the ubiquitous horseshoe arches. Further examples are the Gilded Chapel and its dome, typical of mosques but with constant references to the martyrs of the Church. The compendium of styles reaches a climax in the Gothic ensemble of the Saldaña Chapel. This is where the remains of Queen Joanna – incorrectly known as 'the Mad' – were laid to rest before being transferred permanently to Granada. The convent of Tordesillas has hosted several productions, such as the documentary ‘Comuneros’.          

Despite its strategic location close to Atocha station and the Retiro park, this mausoleum is one of the least known yet most symbolic monuments in Patrimonio Nacional’s care. It houses the mortal remains of some of the most influential politicians in Spanish history, including several presidents of the Council of Ministers of the Spanish Parliament. In addition to their political significance, the tombs are also artistically valuable, with important sculpture groups by Benlliure, Estany, Querol and other artists of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The building, designed by Fernando Arbós, is a work of art in itself: its high ceilings and Gothic arches and the striking neo-Byzantine appearance of its façade make it a unique location in the centre of Madrid.    

The existence of an underground passageway connecting it with the former Alcázar palace is sufficient proof of the power once enjoyed by this convent, which is still inhabited by a community of cloistered nuns today. It was founded in 1611 by King Philip III and Margaret of Austria-Styria, on the queen's personal wish. The art collections it houses make it one of the most outstanding religious buildings in Madrid, together with Las Descalzas.  Its sober Carmelite façade set a trend, and for decades it served as a model for other Spanish religious houses. Its straight lines evidence the influence of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the designs of one of the most important Spanish Baroque architects, Juan Gómez de Mora, who was responsible for the Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Inside, the main rooms are preserved intact, such as the cloister, the choir and the relics chapel, which bear witness to the Spanish Habsburgs’ relations with the European courts.  Several films have been shot in La Encarnación, including ‘Asesinato en la universidad’.          

The hustle and bustle of the capital dies down as soon as you step inside. For this reason, many people refer to Las Descalzas as an oasis in the centre of Madrid. This convent has been characterised by its silence and seclusion ever since it was founded by Queen Joanna of Austria in 1559. In its day it was a centre of great power, a sort of parallel court that existed alongside that of the king. Today it is inhabited by a small community of cloistered nuns, though part of the building is open to public visits and used for other cultural purposes. The building’s austere exterior façade contrasts with the valuable Royal Collections housed inside it, including interesting examples of Spanish imagery and one of the finest groups of sixteenth-century royal portraits, as well as a tapestry series designed by Rubens. The visit is structured around the lower and upper cloisters, connected by a large, completely painted staircase that is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding in the country.