During the empire of Philip II some of the most important political decisions in the world were taken in this area of the Madrid region.
Currently holding the designation of World Heritage monument, this was the residence of Philip II, who in El Escorial created his palace, the great library and a pantheon intended as the final resting place of his parents, Charles I of Spain and Isabel of Portugal, his family and successors. The group of buildings also comprises a large basilica and a monastery.
It was designed according to the plans of Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera, and the last stone was put in place in 1584. The same architect also designed the Casas de Oficios or Official Buildings opposite the monastery’s north façade, and his successor, Francisco de Mora, designed the Casa de la Compaña (Company Quarters).
The basilica has two great cenotaphs: that of its founder, Phillip II, and that of Charles I of Spain, with their respective families, one each side of the high altar. The kneeling sculptures in gilded bronze are by Pompeyo Leoni, as is the altarpiece.
* About the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
* Useful information
* Other services available at the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
About the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
A visit to the monument must certainly include a walk down to the Panteón de Reyes (Kings’ Pantheon), where lie the remains of the monarchs and the mothers of kings or queens from Charles I to the present day. There are only two exceptions: Philip V and Ferdinand VI, who lie in their respective foundations of la Granja de San Ildefonso, and the Salesas Reales in Madrid (Church of Santa Bárbara). The chapel is a circular chamber located under the presbytery, and decorated with marble and bronze.
Philip II was an admirer of the Italian painting of his time and both the monastery and the palace rooms are decorated with works by Zuccaro, Tibaldi, Cambiaso and Luca Giordano. Their frescoes can be seen in the library, the sacristy, the Chapter Rooms, the lower cloister, the main staircase and the GalerÃa de Batallas (Battle Gallery). The altarpiece in the sacristy was contributed by Charles II and is the work of Claudio Coello. There are also sculptures by 16th- and 17th-century Italian artists such as Bernini and Cellini.
The main part of the collection comprises paintings by Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco (The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice)and Velazquez (Joseph’s Tunic). Goya’s mark can also be seen in the area known as the “18th-century palace”, in tapestries embroidered from cartoons by the Aragonese artist.
Detail of the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Among the most noteworthy of the sculptures in the El Escorial are those by Monegro. There are also several images of Christ crucified, cast in bronze by major Italian artists of the 15th and 16th centuries, with one by Bernini, but the real highlight is the work in white marble by Cellini.
Charles II contributed the altarpiece in the sacristy, which is crowned by Claudio Coello’s masterpiece, “The Adoration of the Holy Eucharist”, and the magnificent cycle of frescoes by Luca Giordano in the vaults of the church and the stairway.
Also of note are several pictures by Hieronymus Bosch, a large collection of work by 16th-century Venetian masters, several paintings by El Greco, including “The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice”, as well as Joseph’s tunic by Velazquez.
The building known as the 18th-century Palace is decorated with an important collection of tapestries after cartoons by Goya and furniture in the Charles IV and Imperial styles.
La Casita del Infante hunting lodge
La Casita del Infante
Also known as the Casita de Arriba (Upper Lodge), it was built in two years for Gabriel de Borbón, the son of Charles III. This lodge was inaugurated in 1773 and designed in the Italian style according to plans by Juan de Villanueva, the architect of the Casita del PrÃncipe. The house has its own terraced gardens. Conceived as a small hunting lodge, it is decorated in a whimsical and elegant style. It was used as a setting for functions such as chamber concerts and informal meetings of the Court.
La Casita del Principe (Crown Prince’s House)
La Casita del Principe
This was also built by Juan de Villanueva in 1772. In the neoclassical style, the house was originally intended for the Prince of Asturias, who was later crowned as Charles IV. The structure is reminiscent of Spain’s most important picture gallery, the Prado Museum. The décor is one of the outstanding features of the Casita de Abajo (the Lower House, as it is otherwise known), and is representative of palace art in the 18th century where great importance was given to tapestries, furniture, paintings with mythological themes and various lamps and clocks.
Useful information
*
Address
C/ Juan de Borbón y Battemberg, s/n. 28200 SAN LORENZO DE EL ESCORIAL (MADRID)
Telephone: 91 890 59 02/91 890 59 03
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Public transport
Bus icon Buses: 664 and 661
regional railways icon Regional rail: El Escorial Station
Opening times:
* Royal Monastery and Palace (winter): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 5pm.
* Royal Monastery and Palace (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 6pm.
* The Bourbon Quarters (winter): Tuesday-Friday 4pm and 5pm. Sat: 10am, 11am, 12pm, 4pm and 5pm
* The Bourbon Quarters (summer): Tuesday-Thursday: 4pm and 5pm. Friday: 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. Saturday: 10am, 11am, 12am, 5pm and 6pm,
* JardÃn de los Frailes (Friars’ Garden) (winter): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 6pm.
* JardÃn de los Frailes (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
* Carrero Blanco Park (winter): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 6pm.
* Carrero Blanco Park (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 9pm.
* Casita del PrÃncipe or Lower House (winter): Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 1pm and 4-6:30pm.
* Casita del PrÃncipe or Lower House (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 1pm and 4-6:30pm.
* Gardens of the Casita del PrÃncipe (winter): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 6pm.
* Gardens of the Casita del PrÃncipe (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
* Casita del Infante (winter): Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 1pm and 4pm to 6:30pm
* Casita del Infante (summer): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 1pm and 4-6:30pm.
* Gardens of the Casita del Infante (winter): Monday-Sunday: 10am to 7pm.
Minimum rate (I.D. card or other document required):
Spanish nationals and foreign citizens between 5 and 16 years. School groups, accompanied by teachers, group leaders and/or tutors.
Trainee-workshops and crafts schools. Retired persons, pensioners and EU benefit holders.
EU citizens over 65. Spanish and foreign students. Spanish and foreign disabled persons.
Members of national and international museum and art appreciation societies. European youth card holders.
Admission free (I.D. card or other document required):
Under 5s. Prearranged school visits. Call 914548800 to check conditions.
Wednesdays, for EU citizens with proof of nationality.
In museums where there are tours both with and without a guide, free admission is only for tours without a guide.
Other services available at the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Temporary exhibitions.
Source: Turismomadrid.com
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