Monastery and historical residence of the King of Spain
For other uses, see El Escorial (disambiguation).
Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
A distant view of the Royal Site
Alternative names
Monastery of El Escorial
General information
Architectural style
Herrerian style
Location
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
Management
Patrimonio Nacional
Design and construction
Architect(s)
Juan Bautista de Toledo
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name
Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid
Criteria
Cultural: (i), (ii), (iv)
Designated
1984 (8th session)
Reference no.
318
Region
Europe and North America
Spanish Cultural Heritage
Official name
Monasterio de San Lorenzo
Type
Non-movable
Criteria
Monument
Designated
3 June 1931
Reference no.
RI-51-0001064
El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Spanish: Monasterio y Sitio de El Escorial en Madrid), or Monasterio de El Escorial (Spanish pronunciation:[eleskoˈɾjal]), is a historical residence of the King of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 2.06 kilometres (1.28 mi) up the valley (4.1 km [2.5 mi] road distance) from the town of El Escorial and about 45 kilometres (28 mi) northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid.[1] Built between 1563 and 1584 by order of King Philip II (who reigned 1556–1598),[2][3] El Escorial is the largest Renaissance building in the world.[4] It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university, school, and hospital.
El Escorial consists of two architectural complexes of great historical and cultural significance: the royal monastery itself and La Granjilla de La Fresneda, a royal hunting lodge and monastic retreat about five kilometres (3.1 mi) away. These sites have a dual nature: during the 16th and 17th centuries, they were places in which the power of the Spanish monarchy and the ecclesiastical predominance of the Roman Catholic religion in Spain found a common architectural manifestation.[5] El Escorial was both a Spanish royal palace and a monastery, although Philip II is the only monarch who ever lived in the main building. Established with a community of Hieronymite monks, it has become a monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine.[1][6] It was also a boarding school: the Real Colegio de Alfonso XII.[7]
Philip II engaged the Spanish architect Juan Bautista de Toledo to be his collaborator in the building of the complex at El Escorial.[2][8][9][3] Toledo had spent the greater part of his career in Rome, where he had worked on St. Peter's Basilica,[10][3] and in Naples serving the king's viceroy, whose recommendation brought him to the king's attention. Philip appointed him architect-royal in 1559, and, together, they designed El Escorial as a monument to Spain's role as a center of the Christian world.[11]
On 2 November 1984, UNESCO declared The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo of El Escorial a World Heritage Site.[2][8][9][6][3] It is a popular tourist attraction, often visited by daytrippers from Madrid—more than 500,000 visitors come to El Escorial every year.
^ ab"El Escorial". Britannica. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
^ abcRoller, Sarah (24 November 2020). "El Escorial". History Hit. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
^ abcdCite error: The named reference ingeoexpert was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Tietz, Tabea (13 September 2020). "El Escorial – The World's largest Renaissance Building". SciHi Blog. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
^UNESCO (2008). "The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Natural Surroundings". Retrieved 5 June 2008.
^ abCite error: The named reference significance was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^unknown (2016). "Identidad". Retrieved 1 April 2017.
^ abCite error: The named reference unesco was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abCite error: The named reference headout was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference experiences was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Mary Crawford Volk; Kubler, George (1 March 1987). "Building the Escorial". The Art Bulletin. 69 (1). The Art Bulletin, Vol. 69, No. 1: 150–153. doi:10.2307/3051093. JSTOR 3051093.
ElEscorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de ElEscorial (Spanish: Monasterio y Sitio de ElEscorial en Madrid), or Monasterio de ElEscorial (Spanish...
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Philip II of Spain ElEscorial, Madrid La Granjilla de La Fresneda de ElEscorial, Madrid Juan de Herrera San Lorenzo de ElEscorial, Madrid Valle de los...
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basilica and a monumental memorial in the municipality of San Lorenzo de ElEscorial. Dictator Francisco Franco ordered the construction of the monumental...
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orders a year later, embarking on a busy routine as a Hieronymite at ElEscorial (near Madrid). There he studied under José de Nebra and (according to...
the Dutch Republic in 1581. Philip finished building the royal palace ElEscorial in 1584. Deeply devout, Philip saw himself as the defender of Catholic...
1746. Louis was buried in the Cripta Real del Monasterio de ElEscorial part of the ElEscorial complex. Louis was tall and thin, with blonde hair. He was...
manuscript codices: two at ElEscorial, one at Madrid's National Library, and one in Florence, Italy. The E codex from ElEscorial is illuminated with colored...
Fresneda (also known as La Granjilla de La Fresneda de ElEscorial or La Granjilla) is a park in ElEscorial, Community of Madrid, Spain. Built between 1561...
for the royal family, who often staid at the nearby royal site of the ElEscorial. The design is by the Juan de Herrera. In the 20th century, the Hohenlohe...
for 'Cottage of the Infante') is a historic building in San Lorenzo de ElEscorial, Spain. It was constructed as a private home for the Infante Gabriel...
It originated with the construction of the Monastery of ElEscorial (San Lorenzo de ElEscorial, Community of Madrid) and, more specifically, with the...
infantes have the right to be buried in the Pantheon of Infantes in ElEscorial. The children of infantes bear the style of The Most Excellent (excelentísimo/a...
King) Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de ElEscorial (Royal Castle & Monastery of ElEscorial (Madrid) Royal Palace of El Pardo (Madrid) Palace of Zarzuela (Madrid)...
analysis in trials. Research diagnostic criteria for ALS include the "ElEscorial" in 1994, revised in 1998. In 2006, the "Awaji" criteria proposed using...
outskirts of Madrid, aged 35, on 27 September 1760. She was buried at the ElEscorial in the royal crypt. Charles did not marry again. The example of his actions...
1566, the triptych served as the model for a tapestry that hangs at ElEscorial monastery near Madrid. Upon the death of Henry III, the painting passed...
entrance to the basilica of ElEscorial, Philip's palace, and Solomon is also depicted in a great fresco at the center of ElEscorial's library. Philip identified...
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