The Royal site of San Lorenzo de El

Escorial

During the empire of Philip II

some of the most important
political decisions in the
world were taken in this area
of the Madrid region.
Currently holding the
designation of World
Heritage monument, this
was the residence of Philip II, who in El Escorial created his
palace, the great library and a pantheon intended as the
final resting place of his parents, Charles I of Spain and
Isabel of Portugal, his family and successors. The group of
buildings also comprises a large basilica and a monastery.
It was designed according to the plans of Juan Bautista de
Toledo and Juan de Herrera, and
the last stone was put in place in
1584. The same architect also
designed the Casas de Oficios or
Official Buildings opposite the
monastery's north façade, and
his successor, Francisco de
Mora, designed the Casa de la
Compaña (Company Quarters).
The basilica has two great
cenotaphs: that of its founder, Phillip II, and that of Charles
I of Spain, with their respective families, one each side of
the high altar. The kneeling sculptures in gilded bronze are
by Pompeyo Leoni, as is the altarpiece.

LUIS Y ALVARO