Tripology Travel Experts Blog: Spain

El Escorial Spain

Without a doubt one of the most unforgettable excursions from Madrid is to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, located some 30 miles northwest of Madrid in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama. It was built by King Philip II to house the remains of his parents, Charles I and Isabella of Portugal. The austere Renaissance complex combines a palace and monastery, and features a wonderful collection of art. The walls of El Escorial are covered in art, religious and secular, with works by Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Velázquez, Roger van der Weyden, Paolo Veronese, Alonso Cano, José de Ribera, Claudio Coello and others. The building is structured around a main axis that extends eastwards from the main façade through the Library, the Kings' Courtyard, the Basilica, and the Palace of Felipe II. In addition, the complex includes a Monastery, a Seminary, a School, and the lavishly decorated Kings' Pantheon beneath the high altar of the Basilica. For many years after its completion, El Escorial Monastery was the largest building in the world.

The Royal Library houses a priceless collection of 60,000 volumes -- one of the most significant in the world. Under the altar of the church, you'll find one of the most regal mausoleums in the world, the Royal Pantheon, where most of Spain's monarchs -- from Charles I to Alfonso XII, including Philip II -- are buried. In 1993, Don Juan de Borbón, the count of Barcelona and the father of King Juan Carlos (Franco passed over the count and never allowed him to ascend to the throne), was interred nearby. On a lower floor is the "Wedding Cake" tomb for children. The monastery and site of El Escorial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.

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