El Escorial monastery in Madrid - Madrid place to go - Spain
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MADRID Information: EL ESCORIAL |
 El Escorial, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984, was the political hub of Felipe Il's empire, He built it primarily as a crypt for his father, (Emperor Carlos V), as well as a palace and a monastery. Opened on the commemoration of the Battle of San Quintin, it was named the Monastery of Saint Lorenzo after the Saint whose feast was on that day, (August 10th). After several years of unsuccessfully trying to find an ideal spot to commence building, this wide area on the side of Mount Abantos (Monte Abantos) was finally chosen, Its proximity to Spain's recently-elected capital. Madrid, the nearby granite quarries, and the climate of the area, (sheltered by the side of the mountain). all paved the way for this site to be picked as the site of the monastery in 1562. The first stone was put into place in 1563, and the last in 1584, although work on the interior continued throughout the following centuries. The original design of the building was down to Juan Bautista de Toledo, following the plans and design of the Alcazar in Toledo, Juan de Herrera then took up the project, and in doing so laid the foundations of a new architectural movement, the Herrerian. The main floor, evocative of the area in which San Lorenzo was killed, is extremely strict in the symmetry of its design, while the exterior is noted for its austerity. The sombre walls, devoid of all decoration, are a tJlank canvas broken only by the lines of windows or barely-perceivable mouldings which run along their length, The horizontal lines of the walls are in sharp contrast to the vertical ones of the four towers which stand in the room's corners, each one topped with a pointed slate spire. The palace's famous Library houses one of the most valuable book collections in the world, with more that 45,000 publications from the 15th and 16th century, and over 5,000 Arabic, Latin and Spanish manuscripts. 
On the East side of the Patio of the Kings, (Patio de los Reyes), is the Basilica. Supported on the wall of the building are six granite statues, representative of the six Kings of Judah who lend their name to the patio. Inside the Basilica are the renowned Royal Oratories, (Oratorios Reales), above which are the so-called 'Royal Graves', (Entierros Reales). two sculptures of groups of people kneeling in prayer. The first group is the family of Carlos V, (his wife Isabel and her sisters, Marla, Queen of Hungary, and Leonor, Queen of France), and the second depicts the family of Felipe 11, (his wives Queen Ana of Austria, Queen Isabel of Valois and Queen Marra of Portugal, as well as a statue of Prince Carlos). The King would follow the order of the mass from his private Oratory, high on the presbytery where nobody could see him. It is here that you will find the Palace of the Austrians, (Palacio de los Austrias), once the residence of King Felipe II. These rooms are decorated with austerity and simplicity, typical of the Oynasty's style. Of special note is the Portrait Room, (Sala de Retratos), where all the monarchs of the House of Austria are represented. In contrast is the Bourbon Palace, (Palacio de los Borbones). situated in the North and West wings. Restored under Carlos III whose son, Carlos IV, continued the work, it has rooms which are highly-decorated, and are famed for their tapestries on boards designed by Goya, as well as for its furniture, with styles typical of Carlos IV and the Imperial period. One of the area's most emblematic structures is the Tomb of the Kings, (Pante6n de Reyes). Octagonal in form, the crypt is found directly below the main altar. Inside are the remains of all the monarchs of the Houses of Austria and Bourbon, with the exception of Felipe V who is buried in La Granja, and Felipe VI, buried in the Santa Barbara Church, in Madrid. Also buried here are all the Queens and the mothers of the Kings. The rest of the Royal Family's remains can be found in the Tomb of the Infants, (Panteon de Infantes), built in the time of Isabel II. Other rooms in the monastery which deserve a mention are the Battle Room, (Sala de Batallas), the Sacristy ((la Sacristfa), and the Chapter Rooms, (Salas Capitulares), with their important collection of paintings. Also worthy of mention is the Museum of Architecture, (Museo de Arquitectura). which displays the plans used for the construction of the building. Garden of the Monks, (Jardin de los Frailes). Felipe II was a fanatical nature-lover, so it is little wonder that the gardens play such a vital role in the area as a whole. This garden acts as a fantastic viewpoint from where you can see Madrid and its surrounding area. Other buildings of note are the Infant's House, (Casita del Infante), also known as the Upper House, (Casita de Arriba), built by Juan de Villanueva and noted for its garden and Italian-style terrace, and the Prince's House, (Casita del Prfncipe), or Lower House, (Casita de Abajo), which was built at the same time as the Infant's house. |
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