About Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is also known as the Monasterio del Escorial. The El Escorial complex is massive. It is the 29th largest palace in the world, with 16 inner courtyards, 4,000 rooms, 24 km of hallways, 86 staircases and 88 fountains. It is also an important architectural monument of the Spanish Renaissance. 

It has seen many uses over its centuries-long history, a monastery, basilica, pantheon, library, museum, university, school and hospital. Escorial is architecturally unique in the unity of its architecture and decor, creating a homogenous effect. This is unusual in Spain's architectural history, which has blended Islamic, Renaissance, Baroque and other building styles. It was built between 1563 and 1584, and incorporates works from notable Italian and Spanish artists of the 16th and the 17th centuries. These include Pellegrino Tibaldi, Frederik Zuccaro, El Greco, and Luca Giordano. A small number of artists were carefully chosen and their works carefully integrated to match the architecture, creating an impressive stylistic unity. 

Must See

  • The buildings at the quadrangle: The church, the monastery, the library, the royal palace, and the college
  • Check out the collection of paintings by famous Rennaisance and Baroque artists
  • Statue of San Lorenzo at the main facade and statues of the Kings in the Old Testament
  • Enjoy the perfect blend of Rennaisance art and architecture 

How to reach

 

 

 

By Train:

It takes 41 minutes and the fare is about 7.29 to 9.71 Euros 

By Bus:

It takes 52 minutes 

By Rideshare:

It takes 59 minutes and the fare is about 2.40 Euros

By Taxi:

It takes about 40 minutes and costs about 72.86 to 91.07 Euros

By Car:

It takes about 40 minutes and costs about 5.95 to 9.11 Euros

 

 

Tips

  • You can download the app of Monastry of El Escorial and use it when you visit
  • The place demands a whole day trip from Madrid
  • It is recommended to book a guided tour for a better understanding of the place
  • This visit would require a lot of walking and climbing steps so wear comfortable footwear 
  • Some stairs are steep so be cautious when you climb
  • Book the tickets in advance to avoid waiting
  • European Union citizens are entitled to a discount, so carry your passport along 
  • You can have snacks and drinks at the nearby cafes and restaurants
 

Visit Time

October to March

Sunday:              10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Monday:              Closed

Tuesday:             10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Wednesday:        10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Thursday:            10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Friday:                 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Saturday:             10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

 

April to September

Sunday:               10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Monday:               Closed

Tuesday:              10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday:         10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Thursday:             10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friday:                  10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturday:              10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Time Icon

Waiting Time

No

 

Entrance Fee Icon

Entrance Fee

Yes

Children(under the age of 5):               Free Entry

Basic Fee:                                           12 Euros

Reduced Fee(for children between 

6 to 15 and elderly people above 65):  6 Euros

Read more

 

Time you can spend Icon

Time you can spend

2 hours

 

Weather Icon

Weather

Overcast Clouds 4.63°C

 

Local Services in Madrid (Contact directly)

Discussion

No threads yet!

Be the first one to start a thread.

Top Attractions in Madrid

Top Cities in Spain