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| | == Understand == | | == Understand == |
| − | Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the city's main attraction is the world famous '''Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial''', (El Escorial for short) , a [[World Heritage Site]], that was the political centre of the Spanish empire under King Philip II. It is often visited as a day-trip from [[Madrid]], however it's also a good place to spend 2 or 3 nights so you can visit the surrounding countryside. | + | Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the city's main attraction is the world famous '''Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial''' (El Escorial for short), a [[World Heritage Site]] that was the political centre of the Spanish empire under King Philip II. It is often visited as a day-trip from [[Madrid]], however it's also a good place to spend 2 or 3 nights so you can visit the surrounding countryside and the [[Valley of the Fallen]] (Valle de los Caidos). |
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| | == See == | | == See == |
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| − | [[Image:El_Escorial_Kings_Apt.JPG|thumb|El Escorial]] | + | [[Image:El_Escorial_Kings_Apt.JPG|thumb|350px|El Escorial]] |
| − | '''Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial''': Originally commissioned as mausoleum for his father Charles V, when building completed in 1584 the grounds included a basilica-church, monastery, royal household and library. The pantheon contains the remains of Phillip II and those of his parents, Charles V and the Empress Isabel of Portugal. You can visit the official website [http://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/escorial/escorial.htm here.]
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| | + | ===Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial=== |
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| | + | Originally commissioned as mausoleum for his father Charles V, when building completed in 1584 the grounds included a basilica-church, monastery, royal household and library. The pantheon contains the remains of Phillip II and those of his parents, Charles V and the Empress Isabel of Portugal. [http://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/escorial/escorial.htm] |
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| | Some highlights not to miss in El Escorial: | | Some highlights not to miss in El Escorial: |
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| | * The Library and its vaulted ceiling decorated with frescoes. | | * The Library and its vaulted ceiling decorated with frescoes. |
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| − | == Get In == | + | ===Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen)=== |
| | + | This is the world's largest free-standing Christian cross. Franco′s tomb and memorial to Catholics (both in Franco's side and opposite) killed in the Civil War. Construction was ordered by Franco and erected on rocks through the labor of many Republican prisoners of war. |
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| | + | It is located quite far from the monastery. |
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| | + | == Get in == |
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| | Most visitors arrive from Madrid and most of them just for a day trip. Access from Madrid is easy due to the large number of local trains every day. Trains can be caught at either the Atocha or Chamartin stations in Madrid. If you take the train, once you arrive in the town of El Escorial you will most likely want to take the local bus upon exiting the train station to get to the monastery (otherwise it is a long, uphill walk). Buses from Madrid leave from the Moncloa station and will drop you directly in front of the monastery. To catch a bus back to Madrid, simply take a short walk to the bus station on Calle Juan de Toledo and wait for the next leaving to Madrid. | | Most visitors arrive from Madrid and most of them just for a day trip. Access from Madrid is easy due to the large number of local trains every day. Trains can be caught at either the Atocha or Chamartin stations in Madrid. If you take the train, once you arrive in the town of El Escorial you will most likely want to take the local bus upon exiting the train station to get to the monastery (otherwise it is a long, uphill walk). Buses from Madrid leave from the Moncloa station and will drop you directly in front of the monastery. To catch a bus back to Madrid, simply take a short walk to the bus station on Calle Juan de Toledo and wait for the next leaving to Madrid. |
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| | == Eat == | | == Eat == |
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| | + | *'''La Cueva''' - Calle San Anton 4. Tapas and drinks. |
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| | == Drink == | | == Drink == |
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| | == Sleep == | | == Sleep == |
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| | + | *'''El Botánico''' - Timoteo Padrós 16, +34 91 9807879. Nice little hotel with reasonable prices and a great view of the mountains. |
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| | == Get out == | | == Get out == |
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| | [[WikiPedia:El Escorial]] | | [[WikiPedia:El Escorial]] |
| | {{outline}} | | {{outline}} |
| | + | {{IsPartOf|Community of Madrid}} |
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the city's main attraction is the world famous Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (El Escorial for short), a World Heritage Site that was the political centre of the Spanish empire under King Philip II. It is often visited as a day-trip from Madrid, however it's also a good place to spend 2 or 3 nights so you can visit the surrounding countryside and the Valley of the Fallen (Valle de los Caidos).
Originally commissioned as mausoleum for his father Charles V, when building completed in 1584 the grounds included a basilica-church, monastery, royal household and library. The pantheon contains the remains of Phillip II and those of his parents, Charles V and the Empress Isabel of Portugal. [1]
This is the world's largest free-standing Christian cross. Franco′s tomb and memorial to Catholics (both in Franco's side and opposite) killed in the Civil War. Construction was ordered by Franco and erected on rocks through the labor of many Republican prisoners of war.
Most visitors arrive from Madrid and most of them just for a day trip. Access from Madrid is easy due to the large number of local trains every day. Trains can be caught at either the Atocha or Chamartin stations in Madrid. If you take the train, once you arrive in the town of El Escorial you will most likely want to take the local bus upon exiting the train station to get to the monastery (otherwise it is a long, uphill walk). Buses from Madrid leave from the Moncloa station and will drop you directly in front of the monastery. To catch a bus back to Madrid, simply take a short walk to the bus station on Calle Juan de Toledo and wait for the next leaving to Madrid.
