Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

This palace and monastery dates back to the Charles V and Philip II monarchies. It is austere in comparison to other palaces of the period in keeping with Philip II's character. The monastery and chapel are at least 2X as large as the palace. There's very good explanations throughout and an excellent audio tour guide you can download to your phone for 3 Euros. Don't miss the royal crypts or the hall of battles.

A place that you definitely can't miss if you are in Madrid is El Escorial Monastery. Commissioned by King Felipe II in the 16th century, this architectural marvel served as a royal residence, monastery, and library, reflecting his vision and devotion. It is also the final resting place of many Spanish kings and queens, including Felipe II himself, making it a site of great historical and cultural significance. The surrounding gardens and mountains make it a serene escape from the city's buzz. Trust me, the views and the vibe here are absolutely worth the visit!

I visited on Sunday when it is free for EU citizens from 17:00 onwards. It is definitely worth coming to El Escorial! The whole monastery is just magnificent. I particularly liked the royal library with its gold aesthetic. The mausoleum was also mesmerising with its delicately crafted marble caskets. You should plan at leats 1.5 hours if you wish to visit. There are some cafes and restaurants around the site to enjoy something to drink or eat before or after the visit.

The sat nav took us on quite a convoluted route through the town of El Escorial, probably because most streets were one way, and the car park had one of the most awkward entrances I have everseen. It would have pleased any castle designer with an S shaped entrance route and concrete columns either side, we drove VERY carefully through that to park! We hadn't booked tickets but luckily there was almost no queue so we bought our tickets (€9? each) and followed the route through the rooms. The palace, built by Philip II in the sixteenth century, was a combined monastery and Royal Palace, being minimally altered through the last 500 years. It is so huge that it would not be sensible to let people wander so there is a precise route with ticket checks at several of the building entrances as you progress through. The scale of this palace is mind blowing, far larger than any stately home or Versailles for example. The courtyards otside the buildings were the width of a football pitch and there was no shade from the baking midday sun! As it was a Saturday it was reasonably busy but it absorbed the people easily. First stop was the library, a fantastically decorated room with shelves of books (all put in spine first which seemed strange) and various globes interspersed with desks down the central aisle. The next room was the basillica, another larger than life room with a magnificent altar and domed ceiling. There were a large group of pilgrims inside so we didn't stay long. The first floor was blocked to visitors but we were able to see a magnificent painted ceiling above one of the staircases before another set of rooms with amazing ceilings and lots of artwork and then it was below ground to see the crypts. Spanish royalty have been buried in these tombs from the 16th century and although the tombs were uniform and rather austere, certainly compared to the Austrian Hapsburg tombs in the Kaisergruft, there was a definite majesty and permanence to them. One of the most famous rooms in the complex is the Hall of Battles and this was the next stop on our tour. It lived up to it's reputation with an immense hall with the walls adorned with huge paintings of various battles and campaigns. The main one seemed to be the Spanish fighting the Grenadines and the accuracy and detail was quite phenomenal. There were various other smaller paintings too showing battles against the French and Dutch, a very interesting part of the tour, for me anyway! After the Hall of Battles there were various state rooms, furnished as they would have been a few hundred years ago. The were adorned with massive and intricate tapestries, mostly woven in Spain after the loss of the Spanish Netherlands and their weaving schools. I must admit these rooms interested me very little so I skimmed through them. Our final stop, once we found them, were the gardens. These were immense, but frankly rather dull. Rather like the palace itself, where there was no ornamentation or architectural decoration and it was really rather austere. They were very formal and almost entirely consisted of box hedges with the occasional small orange tree. The wall bordering the gardens was planted with rose bushes which were in a beautiful and uniform pink colour and obviously well manicured. There was a small area outside the complex where you could look over a pool and get reflections of the palace so I walked there while Deb and Mum sheltered from the sun. It was really rather hot and there was no shade in the gardens so they were probably quite sensible! There were a couple of gift shops in the complex but no cafes at all, it is a strange thing that the National Trust would probably have had a huge cafe with a terrace and do a roaring trade but no Spanish attractions seem to do this.

It’s no wonder they call this the 8th wonder of the world because it is absolutely breathtaking here. I’m not sure what I loved more, the library, the basilica, or the royal apartments. I thought nothing could mesmerize me further and then I walked into the next room and my mind was just further amazed by what it was processing. If you’re visiting Spain, you have to carve out a few hours to come and visit here.

We planned our visit to the Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial from Madrid. The journey by bus was easy, quick, and affordable – definitely a great option. We had booked our tickets online, so we could go straight to the entrance. During the check-in, our bags were scanned, but unfortunately, we were only told later, in the middle of one of the historical rooms, that we should have left our backpacks in the lockers. It would have been helpful to be informed about this when our bags were first checked. If so, it wouldn't have been an issue, and we would have left them immediately since we didn’t need them. The palace and monastery complex is a must for history enthusiasts! You can truly feel the history of Spain, whether under the Habsburgs or the Bourbons. The Royal Library and the Cathedral were especially impressive – real highlights. What stood out most to us, however, was the constant presence of Saint Lawrence. Everywhere in the complex, we could find his martyrdom attribute – particularly the grill on which he was executed. It was fascinating how deeply this symbolism was embedded in the architecture and artwork. In the galleries, on sculptures, and in various rooms, we encountered images of the saint in many forms, and each time, his suffering and devotion were palpable. This unique symbolic presence gave the entire place a profound spiritual meaning. Another unforgettable experience was visiting the royal tombs of the Spanish kings. We visited the graves with reverence, trying to find well-known figures, such as Don Carlos (the son of King Philip II, known from Friedrich Schiller’s work). Unfortunately, we couldn’t find him, and even after asking, no one was able to help us. In the Pantheon of the Kings, there were many visitors, and although photography wasn’t allowed, the sight of the tombs was truly impressive. It was also interesting to note that the pantheon is completely filled – we wondered where later kings like Juan Carlos I and Felipe VI, with their queens, would be laid to rest. Finally, we visited the palace garden. A word of caution: the path through the garden is a one-way street, and you must walk back the same way to reach the exit. It can be a bit confusing for some visitors. All in all, it was a wonderful trip, and we are grateful to have been able to experience Spain’s history so closely. The deep symbolic presence of Saint Lawrence and the visit to the royal tombs made this journey an unforgettable experience.

Nice Place to visit! Especially the cathedral and the library are breathtaking! I came in for Free due to the free admission for EU citizens during summer season between Wednesday and Sunday (3-7pm). Being honest I don’t really Know if it would have been worth it for me to pay the full price of 14€.

A very wet visit so unable to view gardens ( Sorry Alan T). The interior self guided tour is very full on . Monastery and Palace. A must visit if you have an interest in Spanish history or the Renaissance period.

El Escorial is also a must see if you're into learning and history, particularly, Spanish history and how it ties into the Philippines' history. After all, "if you know your historeee, then you will know where you're coming from, and you woudent haf to ask me, who da hell do you tink I am?" - Buffalo Soldier (Bob Marley and thee Wailahs) Ahem, back to this UNESCO site, it's about a one hour drive Northwest of Madrid. It was built in the 1500s and of course, there have been several modifications/additions/subtractions. It was originally built to commemorate victories against the French. It was also patterned after King Solomon's temple. I've been to and prayed at the Western Wall (Jerusalem) and coincidentally, you enter Escorial through the Western gate/door. It's a royal palace, a monastery, a basilica, a pantheon (burial site), a church, a library, a teaching institution, we could go on and on. It also has a garden but it doesn't come close to Palais de Versailles' sprawling gardens. I don't think Escorial's garden even eclipses the gardens of Chateaus Chenonceau or Amboise. But it's definitely a doable half-day trip to see this beautiful site. There's a great attention to detail and plenty to learn as you go from room to room. It's also the royal burial site for Spain's kings and queens, at least for the past five, yes 5 centuries. I was able to snap a pic of King Phillip II's tomb - The Philippines was named after him so I was sorta blown away. No pics are allowed here but I couldn't resist....shame on me.... Make sure you go on a guided tour or you won't make the best of your time. I liked that after the drive back to Madrid, it was a perfect time to have lunch and tapas.

Laid prostrate at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama bathed in the warm glow of the Spanish sun, this simple yet historically rich 16th century palace/monastery beckons both tourists and locals alike to lose themselves within its seemingly austere stone walls. To describe this place would be wrong as I would surely but unintentionally omit a special detail or two. From a beautiful library and basilica to its original intent as a mausoleum, there's so much to see and experience. Therefore, enjoy the pictures and allow me to provide a short list of relevant tidbits. - We took our time and saw everything, which took about 2.5 hours. - Let's talk handicap access. The entrance and floor level is handicap accessible; however, there is no access for the deep portions of the tour such as the mausoleum and crypt. There is a way to access the library but I'm not sure how. - This tour is a lot of walking with many steep staircases. Elderly people may have an issue given their maneuverability. - Tickets are 14€ for an adult and 7€ for kids. - There is a nice parking garage near by called Aparcamiento Monasterio that charges about 3€ an hour. - They offer an audio tour guide that we did not partake in but I hear it's mediocre. Overall, it's an amazing historical site nestled in a quaint little town. Make a day of it and enjoy lunch or dinner after the tour. Enjoy!

This place is beyond amazing. We took a train from madrid to the museum and spent the day exploring each room if this magnificent castle, each room as different as the next. Just the history of buildings like this is something that will never be found or experienced in the United states. The detail in the architecture and the beautiful paintings demonstrating hardship, war, starvation and humanity is so inspiring. It was truly a dream come true to be able to stand in the rooms that so many have stood, lived and died. This place is enormous, so be ready for a whole day of exploration. Also note there are no elevators and plenty of stairs. So this is not a place for the handicapped. Also, photos are not allowed, but I was able to snap a few. There are headphones and an iPad available for self guided tours, both in Spanish and english, which was very helpful.

If you like medieval castles and are a fan of learning about ancient royal families in Spain, the Monavideo is a must-see place. Its a large complex in San Lorenzo, about an hour bus ride from Madrid. Its also a functioning school (elementary school?), monastery (some monks still live here), and cathedral (open to the public). I admit, this was probably my favorite place in Madrid during our tour - we had an awesome tour guide who gave a history lesson with some great humor. Photography is not allowed inside the complex. Highlights of my visit were: A great library with some beautiful frescoes. It was originally supposed to have books on both science and theology. I even saw an ancient book in Arabic explaining the rules of chess! At the entrance was a engraved sign in Latin with the policy on borrowing books: "Taking a book out of the library results in Excommunication." The fine is steep since this means you go to Hell. A marble mausoleum where several centuries of Spanish kings and queens were buried, once going through the 30-yr waiting period in the "decomposition rooms." A grand cathedral inside the complex open to the public. Supposedly you can book it for weddings at a hefty price and wait period. Our tour guide said folks often book first and then look for a spouse - LOL Various art pieces scattered throughout the property, including one by El Greco. The frescoes were most amazing I think - several were painted by a highly productive artist who can dual-wield two brushes.

Fabulous! An amazing experience with an epic exploration of the history of Spanish Kings. Things to know - the gardens are a must - and also the Hall of Battles and Library. The exterior is a massive stone fortress with an inside reminiscent of the Vatican in Rome. A must see if in or nearby Madrid.

Make sure you call to see if it's open after 2 hours in a train and then taking a bus ride to go up that mountain we found out it was close may 24 and 25

This place is enormous. I don't think I can remember anywhere so huge- and because it is made of granite, it looks almost "new". It was the place Phillip II came to die (and you can see the chair in which he was carried to El Excorial from Madrid- soldiers carried him, as he was too sick to ride in a carriage). You will see the library, the church, look out at the gorgeous gardens, see the royal apartments, and the crypt! There is a crypt for the queens of Spain who had no male issue, There is a crypt for the babies. There is a tomb for Don Juan (and what a handsome corpse he must have been- if his marble effigy is a good likeness.) Finally, there is the burial room of the kings of Spain (and one "rex" queen)- along with the queens who gave birth to a king. You'll learn about the rotting room- where the corpses like for around 30 years until they are deemed ready to be sealed in one of the decorative coffins. The monks take care of this- and the monks still live here, their quarters are not part of the tour. You will see amazing art- el Greco, Bosch, a fabulous Cellini Jesus on the cross (one of the most beautiful I have ever seen) and much much more. I hate stairs- and there were a lot here- over a hundred- but it was worth it. I would not have wanted to miss it. No, pictures are not allowed inside- but it's amazing. I will always remember this place. It was totally fascinating. We had a guide- so maybe that made the difference. I'm very glad to have seen this place- it added to my knowledge of Phillip the 2nd and the Hapsburg and Bourbon kings- and I loved the art.

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. El Escorial is full of history, definitely read up on it before your visit. What you do need to know is that it is absolutely gorgeous. You can spend days wondering around here. Things to see: the patio of the kings, the basilica, Palace of Philip II, Hall of Battles, Pantheon of the Kings, Pantheon of the Princes and Gardens of the Friars. Do yourself a favor and give yourself a lot of time to spend here. It will definitely be well worth it. Also the surrounding town is quiet and has nice boutique shops.

IMHO, this can be skipped. With so many beautiful sites to conquer in Spain, don't waste time here. The structure looked cold and imposing, reminiscent of a huge prison. Only the library was intriguing, but then you aren't allowed to take photos inside the building, so you'd better have a good photographic memory. I don't know how other travelers were able to post interior photos here, for every corner I turned, the staff kept repeating, "No photos!" Below, in the mausoleum, it got creepy to be so close to the crypts and being pushed by the crowd. The marbled crypts and resting places for Spain's royals indeed are beautifully constructed, but only if you're into that kind of thing. I still can't understand why photography isn't allowed inside. It isn't even that impressive or pretty. Visited September 2016.

A somewhat interesting but austere palace and basilica. One impression I had of the building and its ceiling painting is an attempt to make one feel small. Photography is not allowed inside the building, which is silly. At 10 Euros for entry and 4 Euros for an audioguide, it is a bit overpriced. The inner chambers of the king and queen were somewhat interesting.

This is a very historical area which is worth seeing if you have a day to kill. In order to get here, if you are a resident in Madrid and have a Metro card (Tarjeta transporte publico) that you are able to utilize to go here for free. There is no need to pay 8 euros if you have this card! There are several ways that you can come here, there are buses and trains going to El Escorial. Once the bus or train leaves you, you will have to take a bus up towards the Escorial since it does not leave you directly, once again you can utilize your card in order to get here. After you arrive, you can decide to walk around and then go here. There are various discounts for all age groups. If you are a student at a university or any academical school, it's best if you bring your ID to get the discount, if so it would only be 5 Euros. Once inside, there are different sections to El Escorial. There is the library, the church, the gardens, the tumbs, etc. It's a good idea to reserve half a day here since there are a lot of details in this building. Once you are inside, you are not allowed to take pictures and there are guards in every other room looking out for people who do.

Incredible! Built in th 16th century by Phillip II, one should spend a lot of time here due to its size and quality, and enjoy the Library, the chambers, the crypt, the Basilica, the Hall of Battles, gardens, etc... One cannot come to Madrid and do not visit it!