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San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid)
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The splendour of Felipe II.
The monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was founded by Felipe II to commemorate the victory at the Battle of San Quintín.
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The El Escorial monastery was built by order of King Felipe II, who conceived it as a royal pantheon and turned it into his centre of political operations. Work began in 1563, under Juan Bautista de Toledo, and ended in 1584. After his death, his follower, Juan de Herrera, continued the work, becoming the real creative force behind this royal monastery residence. In 1971 it was declared a Historic Artistic Site. Its location was decided on the advice of astrologers, doctors, philosophers, quarrymen, theologians and architects, who chose the Guadarrama mountains, at an altitude of 1,055 metres, as the ideal place. The monastery commemorates the victory at the battle of San Quintín, on San Lorenzo's day. Built of granite, the most notable features are the symmetry and balance that completely dominate the architectural composition and the austere decoration. Among other buildings, the following group is outstanding: the church, the library, the royal courtyard, the Friars' Gardens and various rooms intended for accommodation and services, like the quarters for guests, the infantes, ministers, the Queen and servants.
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 | UNESCO
World Heritage | | (Year of registration: 1984) |
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| | | Type of monument: Monastery, Palace. | | | Origin: 16th Century. | | | Period: 16th Century. | |
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| Information for visits | |
| Timetables: 1 October to 31 March, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. 1 April to 30 September, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Closed: Mondays
Entry fee:
General admission: €9 (guided tour); €7 (without guide, short route); €8 (without guide, long route) Reduced: €6 (groups organised by travel agencies). Minimum charge: €3.50 (without guide, short route); €4 (without guide, long route); (over 65s, retired persons, pensioners, Youth Card holders, educational groups and ICOM members, with ID, and children 5-16 years, only for European Union citizens. Students and disabled persons, with ID). Free: children under 5 years, educational groups by prior appointment, and Wednesdays for European Union citizens.
Services: Guided tour. | | | | |
| Must see...... | | | | The library, the basilica, the sacristy, the Kings' pantheon, Frailes (Monks) gardens.
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| Surrounding area | | | | San Lorenzo de El Escorial is one of the most visited places in the Community of Madrid. It has many monuments, such as the servants quarters, the Queen's quarters, the Infante's (or Upper) house and the Prince's (or Lower) house.
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