El Escorial, The Famous Palace of Spain

Spain is the home for many monumental buildings which are not to be found anywhere in Europe. These monumental buildings were built centuries ago and the government of Spain has preserved these buildings to serve as a historical evidence of the mastery the architects and the engineers had achieved in designing and constructing these buildings.

The best example of masterly works of architecture and engineering marvel and impeccable beauty is the King of Spain’s royal palace which is called as ‘El Escorial’. The other part of the El Escorial is the hunting retreat called as ‘La Granjilla de La Fresneda. These two structures are so beautiful that the UNESCO has declared them as the ‘world heritage sites’.

Where it is located?

The location of the palace is in the midst of most beautiful and picturesque location; it is at the foot of the famous mountain called as the Mount Abantos. It is located in the town called as San Lorenzo and is about 45 kms from Madrid. The palace is now very well connected by road.

According to historians, the corner stone for the palace was laid on April 23, 1563 and completed in the year 1584. The entrance of the palace has three doors, one leads to patio and the other leads to the monastery and the third door leads to the school.

The main façade is lavishly decorated. The monastery has a basilica which has been beautifully decorated with red marbles. Apart from this monastery has many works of paintings and works of arts. As a matter of fact, the king of Spain has been buried in this monastery.

The inside of the palace is generously decorated with works of sculpture. There are some paintings which depicts some of the famous wars fought by the King. The room where the King Phillip lived is located in the building within the palace. Alcoba Del Rey is the building where the bed on which King Phillip II died has been preserved even to this day.

The palace has beautiful gardens and it is said that the king used to take a stroll in these gardens during his leisure hours. The area were the king lived is decorated with Toledo marbles and is decorated with gold plated on Bronze metal. The Pantheons where the queen used to rest is decorated with finest marbles.

Museum on Architecture, Art gallery, Library and garden of Friars are the other interesting aspects of this palace. This most beautiful palace receives an average of 50000 tourists every year.