El Escorial

Monasterio de El Escorial (Madrid, Spain)


El Escorial


Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real




El Escorial, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real (also known as the Monasterio de El Escorial or simply El Escorial) stands out against the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama to the northwest of Madrid. It was built between 1563 and 1584 in honour of St Lawrence, and its unornamented severity set a new architectural style which became one of the most influential in Spain. On November 2, 1984, UNESCO declared The Royal Site of San Lorenzo of El Escorial a World Heritage Site. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction, often visited by day-trippers from Madrid.

The Escorial is a treasure-house of art and learning. The interior was conceived as a mausoleum and contemplative retreat rather than a splendid residence. Its artistic wealth, which includes some of the most important works of art of the royal Habsburg collections, is concentrated in the museums, chapterhouses, church, royal pantheon and library. In contrast, the royal apartments are remarkably humble.

Though it is a modern European country, Spain still has an air of mystery, with its tiny white villages where life has remained unchanged since the days of the Catholic Kings; with a city like Barcelona, which offers the very latest in the arts; with a city like Sevilla, on which the eyes of the world were turned at the time of the World Fair(which left the city with nothing but financial problems) and which has now nodded off to sleep again; with its fanatic left-wing movement which has fought for abortion and the legal sale of cannabis; with its places of pilgrimage where crowds of ecstatic worshippers can always be found; with its completely renovated Prado museum, whose collection can compete with the most beautiful (and richest) in Europe.

Spain contains still more surprises. It is the most touristy country in the world. Every year, it is visited by some 50 million holidaymakers. Medieval castles turned into luxury hotels and mansions converted into youth hostels typify the variety of places to stay in Spain. Visitors can also stay on remote farms, or in villas and old housese let for self-catering. Villas in Spain and holiday flats let by the week are plentiful along the Spanish coasts. In scenic areas of the countryside, there are many casa rurales (farm and village houses) for rent by the day. Click here to Rent a villa in Galicia for a relaxing and rustic holiday or get some Great deals on apartment and villas in Barcelona!