Monastery and Palace in Spain’s Golden Age
The royal monastery of El Escorial is one of the most spectacular sites to visit within the Madrid area, little more than an hour’s journey by train from Atocha Train Station. Upon arrival, a bus right outside the station will take you up to one of what many consider to be, a wonder of the world. And the monastery does not fail to amaze the visitor. This is the place, where centuries before, King Felipe II, a contemporary of Queen Elizabeth I of England, decided to establish a monastery and also his court. During the visit, you will learn the reasoning the extraordinary monarch had in choosing this remarkable setting and constructing one of Spain’s most breathtaking Royal Sites.
Whether travelling by train, bus or car, the mountains receive you like a guest of honour where one can take in beautiful forest views until, as if out of nowhere, a magnificent building of incredible dimensions rises out of the folds of the mountain to greet you.
Felipe II, every bit a renaissance king
The architect of all that we see is King Felipe II who imprinted his style on everything that El Escorial represented in the 16th century. He was a controversial monarch whose defence of the Catholic religion was the centre of his reign.
He was a loyal representative of the Counter-Reformation, a movement whose objective was to combat the reforming protestant ideas. Due to his personality, he ended up being surrounded by some of the best artists of the era so that they could transform the symbol of this 16th century Spanish monarch into reality.
Juan Bautista of Toledo, Juan de Herrera as architect or painter such as Navarrete, among others, were close collaborators with a king who appreciated art in all its facets.
Felipe II was a great collector of the best artists. Works by El Bosco, Titian and El Greco formed part of these royal collections. Many examples of these artists can be seen though out El Escorial.
Patio of the Kings and Basilica
Upon entering the royal monastery of El Escorial, the immense Patio of the Kings delights us with imposing statues of the Kings of Judea carved in granite by the Cantabrian architect and sculptor, Juan Bautista Monegro. These carven kings guard the jewel of the monastery, the Basilica. Walking in its interior one can’t help but feel history reaching out to you, embodied by the stonework. Cenotaphs in bronze, chapels, paintings or relics speak to us of such personages as Charles V or Felipe II who built this beautiful place in the 16th century and remains one of the most appreciated and important buildings dating back to that time.
The Gardens of El Escorial
Felipe II paid just as much attention to the exterior of the monastery. The gardens that he command be built reflect the symbolic perfection of the buildings surrounding them. The monarch wanted to bring art and nature closer together.
To this end, a team of architects and gardeners gave form to these renaissance gardens, through which we are free to enjoy. They brought plants and flowers from all corners of the known world.
Facade and library of El Escorial
In 1562, King Felipe II counted on the the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo to bring to life the monarch’s dream of building a monastery, palace, college and seminary. This holy site is dedicated to Saint Lawrence where we can see in the facade of the building in a sculpture by Juan Bautista Monegro. In various occasions we see the saint holding a gridiron in reference to the method of his martyrdom.
From the entrance in the photo on the left, we can contemplate the Library. Upon passing through its doors, not only can we enjoy the works of art it holds, but also realise that it is a place of learning, holding all the the knowledge and studied materials of the Renaissance. Consulted today by scholars of all types, it was one of the most important libraries in all of Europe.
