6,5 KM
An 8-hour route to get to know the most important elements of the Royal Site of El Escorial, formed by the towns of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Escorial. The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is one of the most extraordinary architectural ensembles in the world, having been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The itinerary highlights not only the fascinating Monastery-Palace, a reference of the Spanish Renaissance, and its first annexed constructions, but also the buildings and recreational areas for the Bourbon court developed since the 18th century.
It was opened in 1861 and operated by the Compañía de los Caminos de Hierro del Norte de España (Northern Spain Railroads Company) until 1941. It is currently part of the Cercanías Renfe commuter trains network that connects Madrid with its outskirts. It is located on line C3a, in zone C1.
The Casita del Príncipe or Royal House of Prince is an intimate, recreational palace built in 1773 by Juan de Villanueva in neoclassical style for the enjoyment of Prince Charles, the future Charles IV. It is located in a beautiful park separated from the Dehesa de la Herrería, surrounded by gardens of great beauty.
It was built in 1901 on the site of the former House of Kitchens and Stables of the Queen Mother.
Originally they were two different buildings built in 1771, by Juan Esteban, to house members of the Court during royal stays. In the 19th century they became Royal Stables, and in the 20th century, no longer in use, they were restored to house a permanent exhibition.
It was built in 1771 on the initiative of King Carlos III and is the work of Jaime Marquet, French architect established in Spain since the reign of Ferdinand VI, author of theaters in other royal sites, such as those of Aranjuez and El Pardo.
It is 205 meters long and its central section houses the library, which Juan de Herrera designed to close the courtyard leading to the Basilica and unify the facade. It shows some of the predominant characteristic elements of the new Herrerian style, framed in the Spanish Renaissance, such as the Tuscan order, the giant order, the ornamental austerity, the use of pyramids and spheres, and the Flemish-influenced slate roofs.
King Philip II conceived the idea of building a great monastery that would also be a palace and royal pantheon. The reasons for the foundation were essentially the fulfillment of two promises: to execute the will of his father, Emperor Charles, in which he was entrusted with the task of finding a burial place for him and the Empress Isabella, and secondly, to consummate the offering made after the victory in the Battle of Saint-Quentin on August 10, 1557 against France. It was built between 1563 and 1584. Inside we find masterpieces of sculpture and painting.
Highlights: the library, the pantheon, the cloister, the courtyard of the Evangelists, the basilica, the chapter rooms, the sacristy, the Hall of Battles and the palaces of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons.
It is a small building attached to the southwest corner of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo, built by Juan Bautista de Toledo in 1586, as a union between the tower of the apothecary and the infirmary, facing the garden of the Friars. The colonnade was designed by Juan de Herrera following the model of Juan Bautista de Toledo.
The Friars' Garden is located at the foot of the Monastery, along the south façade, surrounding the monks' quarters. It was designed by Juan de Herrera in the second half of the 16th century and sits on an artificial terrace built to overcome the unevenness of the terrain. It has a marked geometric design, formed by a succession of spaces arranged longitudinally, each of which contains flowerbeds with a fountain in the center.
The King's Gardens, intended for private use, extend under the Royal Apartments. They have terraces on the lower level, from which one can contemplate the surroundings of the Monastery. To safeguard privacy, they are separated from the Friars' Garden by discreet stone enclosures, although the dividing walls have doors that allow a complete tour of the complex.
The gardens are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Free access.
The Casita del Infante or Royal House of Infant is a recreational palace of the Spanish royal family, built by Juan de Villanueva, in neoclassical style, for the Infante Don Gabriel de Borbón, son of King Carlos III. It was conceived as a place of rest and also of leisure, to celebrate chamber music concerts. It is located on the road to Robledo within the Herrería estate. It consists of a small Palladian-inspired building located in the center of a beautiful Italian-style garden, with hedges drawn according to a precise geometric pattern and populated by a grove of large conifers.
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