La Granja is located in the south-east of the province of Segovia, on the north side of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, nestling between the rivers Eresma and Cambrones, in a flat area beneath the steep faces of this mountainous area.

Of immense ecological value, the Valsaín Hills are home to a wide range of game and were popular royal hunting grounds.

San Ildefonso, or La Granja nestles in a dip in the terrain, exposed only to the cooling north winds, which explains its far milder climate. Indeed, it was the cooler temperatures that led King Philip V to build a spectacular palace here, destined to become his summer residence. The style of the palace reflects his French upbringing, as it boasts a grandeur on a par with the Palace of Versailles in Paris, including its stunning gardens and fountains.

The adjacent chapel, the Royal Collegiate Church of La Santísima Trinidad houses the mortal remains of Philip V and his wife, Elisabeth Farnese.