El Escorial, Symbol of the Spanish Empire

Each week, we, the good folk of Inhispania, kindly organise a range of optional extra curricular activities for you, the students, to enjoy. These range from the more simple “Tapas en El Tigre” or a football match against the teachers to excursions to local places of interest such as the Monasterio de El Escorial.

So here is a little background information to excite you ...

The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, or Escorial to its close friends, was originally constructed in 1559 under Phillip II of Spain as a monument to Spain’s role as a centre of the Christian world. He enlisted the help of Juan Bautista de Toledo to design this building which would function, at once, as a monastery and royal palace. The Roman Catholic King also intended El Escorial to become a centre for learning to aid his Counter-Reformation campaign. 

As a result, the impressive architecture and sheer size of the building speak for themselves so if you aren’t interested in the history you still won’t be disappointed by your view! This World Heritage Sie is all the more enhanced by its austere setting: a bleak, semi-forested and wind-swept landscape at the foot of Mount Abantos in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Plus, in addition to the monastery’s explicit functions, the building houses masterpieces by artists such as El Greco, Velazquez and José de Ribera along with many priceless manuscripts to catch your eye.

Located about 45 km northwest of Madrid, it is accessible by bus (7€ return) and entry to the monastery will cost you 5€.

So if you’re interested in seeing this famous and historical site then don’t forget to check our activities noticeboard regularly to see if we are going, get all the useful information and sign up!
photo via: Picture from La Opinión de Murcia.