Sumérgete en el Patrimonio Nacional: Escorial y Caídos

Tired of walking around the streets of Madrid? It’s the time to visit San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the perfect day trip and a comfortable one if you do it with a guided tour.

Leaving Madrid in the morning, you can get to this town outside the city in less than an hour. San Lorenzo de El Escorial was where the court of King Felipe II used to be, responsible for the construction of the famous homonymous monastery. A symbol of Spain’s emergence in the world during the Sixteenth century, it’s part of the so-called Royal Sites, such as La Granja de San Ildefonso or Aranjuez, which used to be a summer royal residence. The tour includes a visit and access to the monument in spaces such as the Habsburg Palace, the Royal Pantheon or the Chapter Hall. If there is any time left, you can also visit this interesting exhibition.

What was once pompously considered the Eighth Wonder of the World, the next stop takes you to a symbol of contemporary history, an overwhelming sight of fascist inspiration: Valle de los Caídos.

Its construction was ordered in the 1940s in order to bury more than 30,000 victims of both sides who fought the Spanish Civil War. Later, it became a sanctuary for General Franco, who was buried here next to another fascist leader of the time, José Antonio Primo de Rivera. The place is chilling, as are the sculptures by Juan de Ávalos, reminiscing of expressionist comic books, and the Christian cross of more than 300 ft. in height, visible within a 24-mile radius.

Once you’ve visited both National Heritage monuments, the bus will return to Madrid, arriving at approximately 2.00 p.m. The price per person, for a 5-hour activity, is of 65 euros, 58 euros for senior citizens. The tour is in Spanish but it can be done in other languages if booked in advance.

Categories: Madrid Turismo