El Escorial Information

El Escorial was the dream and vision of King Felipe II who decided to make it real to commemorate both the greatness of the Spanish empire and to show eternal gratitude to God for blessings received.

Two promenades through the Historic-Artistic Heritage of San Lorenzo de El Escorial invite us to know the ins and outs of this ancient city:

The sixteenth century part of the city, where it is located the Monastery, shows a magnificence style but full of simplicity at the same time.

The seventeenth century area that includes the part of the city that grew thanks to the authorization given by King Carlos III to lift the court area of the city that now forms the old town.

Click to read more about the Monastery.

El Escorial, is the place chosen by King Felipe II to commemorate his victory over the French. 500 years later it was also taken by Franco to commemorate the memory of the fallen of both parties in the fratricidal Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). A huge monument not less in terms of size than the Monastery constructed by Felipe II, was raised. It was erected the highest Christian cross ever built that can be spotted from the outskirts of Madrid more than 40 km away.

The basilica was built in the Sierra of Guadarrama, between 1940 and 1958 and dead from both sides are buried there. Read More about the Valle de los Caídos.