A great day trip from Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a magnificant, beautiful town full of history, architecture, and natural scenery. The town offers many attractions for visitors to this great country.
Historical & Architectural Marvels for El Escorial
El Escorial is the burial place of the kings of Spain. San Lorenzo is a great road trip, about 30 miles northeast of Madrid. The pictureaque Spanish town if full of wonders that will delight history and architecture buff.
Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Between 1563 and 1584, King Phillip II commissioned the construction of the Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, an imposing complex that served as his royal palace until 1598. This imposing site, one of the most significant landmarks in Spain, is a testament to the grandeur of the Spanish monarchy.
It currently features a monastery, basilica, library, and museum. Being the largest Renaissance building in the world, it is a striking architectural marvel to behold. Although creepy, we saw the final resting places of several Spanish monarchs in the Royal Pantheon there.
Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial. This is the burial place of the kings of Spain. I wanted to show a few graveyards and cemeteries for Halloween. Scroll down my Insta feed and you’ll see the marble and gold caskets of Kings and Queens! That somebody else took because photos are not allowed. Below the six statues of this facade are three doors. Each leads to a unique place:
- The Courtyard of Kings
- A school
- A Monastery.
The town of San Lorenzo, which also has some great restaurants and shops along the street Calle Floridablanca, is about 30 miles northeast of Madrid. Even if they don’t dive into the rich Spanish history it holds, travelers will love strolling through the art and architecture of this UNESCO Heritage Site.
The Courtyard of Kings
The main entrance to the basilica, the Courtyard of Kings, is an amazing site. Here are images of the facade of the Courtyard of Kings
The left statues
The middle statues
The right statues
Valley of the Fallen (El Valle de los Caídos)
On the drive from Madrid to El Escorial, you’ll pass the controversial Spanish Civil War memorial site, El Valle de los Caídos. Built between 1940 and 1959 by Francisco Franco’s order, it was his burial site until the exhumation of his remains in 2019 to remove any importance associated with the dictator.
Franco allegedly intended it to serve as a memorial to the brave souls who died in the Spanish Civil War. As we drove by it, my brother-in-law told me that the bodies of prisoners of war, whom the dictator used as slave labor, were also buried where they fell during construction.
Although fraught with controversy, the giant cross is an impressive site and serves as a reminder of the dangers of those who yield too much power.
Real Biblioteca del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
The Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a sight to behold. Its stunning, frescoed ceilings and other breathtaking art and architecture create a mesmerizing atmosphere.
Housing over 40,000 volumes, including ancient books and historical Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Arabic manuscripts, it is a treasure trove for book, art, and history lovers. The collection even includes over 600 books, known as incunables, which were printed before 1501!
Along with the Pantheon of Kings, you can tour the school and monastery. The Library is absolutely amazing! The Hall of Battles is unbelievable. It’s a long, arched room with a mural depicting important Spanish battles. The details in the paintings are incredible.
A view of one of the ceiling murals at Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
I only realized now that it looks like I’m trying to do a Salvador Dalí impersonation. That was accidental as there are no works by Dalí at El Escorial that I know of.
A view of one of the ceiling murals at Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escoria without my attempt at a Salvador Dalí impersonation.
A view of one of the ceiling murals at Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escoria without my attempt at a Salvador Dalí impersonation. El Escorial is the burial place of the kings of Spain. Scroll down my Insta to mid-October for shots of the amazing facade outside? San Lorenzo is a great road trip, about 30 miles northeast of Madrid. I also promised before to share one of my favorite photos ever, which was taken in San Lorenzo. Click the link in my for more information about El Escorial!
Art in San Lorenzo
Check out this door!
I’ve posted pics of Spanish doors before. This one is in Real Monasterio De San Lorenzo De El Escorial, north of Madrid.
Bookmark This Page and Come Back for More
More updates coming to this article:
- Natural & Scenic Attractions
- Cultural & Unique Experiences
- Religious & Spiritual Sites
More Fabulous Travel Destination in Spain
I can think of at least 7 great reason to visit Peñíscola, Spain!
References
https://www.patrimonionacional.es/visita/real-monasterio-de-san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial
https://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/coleccion/real-biblioteca-del-monasterio-de-el-escorial