El Escorial

El Escorial - Royal Monastery, Palace, Basilica & Royal Tombs

By BlackBuck Travels

Features

2h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation
Multiple languages

Overview

Relive the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire in the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The historical complex, located in an exceptionally beautiful hilly site north of Madrid, was built by the enigmatic King Philip II to house the royal mausoleum, the grand basilica providing constant prayer for the kings’ soul, Bourbons Palace with its priceless art collections as well as other buildings of immense beauty. You will get to see The Basilica, the central building of the complex, the Chapter Rooms, the underground Royal Burial Chambers, the Palace Of Prince Philip II, and finally, art in Bourbons Palace

Activity location

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- s/n Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg
- 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

Meeting/Redemption Point

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- s/n Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg
- 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

Check availability

El Escorial - Private Guided Tour

2h
English

Travellers

Languages available

Starting time

Price details

€419.00 x 1 Traveller€419.00

Total

What's included, what's not

Official Tour Guide
Entrance fee - El Escorial : € 14 per adult

Know before you book

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transport options are available nearby
Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.

Activity itinerary

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

15m

Start the excursion at the Royal Library, the ultimate example of the high cultural value of the complex as the centre of spirituality and learning in Spain for centuries. Exquisite ceiling frescoes depict the seven liberal arts with a burst of colour. Solid wooden shelves house a priceless collection of manuscripts and rare books. The elaborate globe model in the centre of the library depicts Christian cosmology, insisting that the solar system revolves around the Earth.

20m

Next, move downstairs and take a look around the King’s courtyard. The central yard of the complex is named after the statues of Old Testament kings on the facade of the dominating Basilica.

Basilica de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caidos

20m

The Basilica, the central building of the complex, is a clear example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, perfectly coordinated with the decoration to create a mind-blowing unified artistic effect. The statues of Saint Lawrence and the kings on the grand symmetrical façade prepare the way for a magnificent display of saints and kings inside, besides other ornate decorations such as marble walls, carved woodwork, and stained glass windows.

El Escorial

20m

On the next step, stop by the Chapter Rooms, where the monks carried out the readings of the Rules and discussed administrative issues. These spaces of great importance within the monastic structure set themselves apart from the rest of the complex with their simplistic architecture and sober decoration. They also house religious works of art, including The Robe of Joseph, a work by Velázquez.

El Escorial

15m

Then, take the stairs down to the underground Royal Burial Chambers, the final resting place for the Spanish monarchs. The mausoleum consists of two parts: the gilded Pathogen of Kings, housing relics of kings and king’s mothers, and the Pantheon of the Infantes in white marble, containing tombs of kings’ children and consorts.

El Escorial

15m

After that, visit the Palace Of Prince Philip II, where King Phillip II and some other royal members lived. His residence is located right next to the basilica for one good reason: The religious king could watch mass from his room when he was too weak to officially attend.

El Escorial

15m

Finally, treat yourself to the ultimate experience of art in Bourbons Palace, composed of the Hall Of Battles covered in exquisite frescoes depicting famous battles, the Art Gallery housing the finest European art collection of the Spanish royal, and the Architecture Museum displaying the antique tools and building materials used to build the complex.

Location

Activity location

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- s/n Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg
- 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

Meeting/Redemption Point

Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- s/n Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg
- 28200, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

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