El Escorial

El Escorial  -  the Royal Seat of San Lorenzo el Escorial is a historical residence of Spanish king, placed in the small town San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 45 km northwest of Madrid.

There are many things to see for which you will need 3-4 hours - of semi-speed walk :) Some exhibitions are more interesting than others :) It depends what draws your attention; architecture, paintings, paintings, architecture :) What I love in such places is the awareness that you had seen these works in your art coursebook, in school, X years ago ;) and now you see them in reality :)

Places that will amaze you:

- Library - huge, wonderfully decorated room with tens of bookshelves with old books and manuscripts.. On the ceiling images of 7 Free Arts - which are.. ? :) (keep reading)

- Panteon Real - astonishing golden, black marbled room with number of sarcophaguses of Spanish kings. Then,  another 9! rooms - other family vaults. (looks like indoor white marble cementary) 

- Garden - bowl-shape cut bushes, romantic paths surrounded by old, disintegrated walls... make you feel like a princess (even boys :P)

Escorial minature



 Paintings of Seven free Arts:

 Philosophy, Teology, Grammar, Rheoric, Music, Arithmetic, Geometry, Dialectic and Astrology



practical hints:

Cercanias: Nuevos Ministerios:, Atocha C3 Escorial - run every hour, time: 1hour

Escorial ticket: 10 E normal, 5 E discount

When you get of from the station, there is a bus that goes up - to Monasterio (1,10E) - just folllow the crowd ;] 

After the visit, however, you can easily walk down the hill to the station.. just 20 min - I know your legs are already 'tired' - (mildly speaking;) but come on, do not pay another 1,10 back :) 

for more pictures/ info visit the page: http://www.patrimonionacional.es/Home/Palacios-Reales/Real-Sitio-de-San-Lorenzo-del-Escorial.aspx