Abbey of Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos- Century: XX
- Address: Guadarrama/El Escorial Highway, Valle de Cuelgamuros 28029 (Madrid)
- Phone: 918905611
- Website: www.patrimonionacional.es
- Timetable: In winter from Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:00 a.m. – 05:30 p.m. In summer from Tuesdays to Sundays: 10:00 a.m. – 06:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
- Description: A few kilometres from El Escorial, in the middle of a pine wood we find a huge cross, the most visible piece from the Abbey of Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos. This funeral monument was built between 1940 and 1956 in memory of the victims of the Spanish Civil War, and consists of the enormous stone cross and the Benedictine basilica, carved out of the rock. The site and its monuments were designed by Pedro Muguruza and Diego Méndez, and decorated with colossal sculptures by Juan de Avalos. The basilica's structure is based around an open transept, and has a dome decorated with mosaics. The crypt is carved out of the rock itself, and is the site of the high altar. The Falange’s founder, José Antonio Primo de Rivera, and the dictator Francisco Franco are buried there, among others. The site also has buildings for the library and guest quarters.
Madrid
Madrid