Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, or Monasterio del Escorial, is a historical residence of the King of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 2.06 km up the valley from the town of El Escorial and about 45 kilometres northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid.

Complex of royal buildings of the s. XVI with ancient paintings, luxurious apartments and vaulted library. When Philip II built this monastery it was initially proposed that it be a building in which the mortal remains of his father, Carlos V, and the royal family would be housed. For his custody and suffrages, he set up a community of Hieronymite monks who would raise their prayers to God in thanksgiving and supplications for the eternal rest of the royal family. Little by little, as the building was erected, new objectives were forged, such as being a royal residence, culture center, study seminar, craft workshops, hostelry, hospital…