Escorial, National Treasure of Spain
by Marcy Wielfaert
Title
Escorial, National Treasure of Spain
Artist
Marcy Wielfaert
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Escorial was originally commissioned by King Philip II of Spain as an edifice to commemorate the 1557 Spanish victory at the Battle of St. Quentin against France. Situated at the foot of Mt. Abantos in the Sierra de Guadarrama and built as a royal palace, it is one of the Spanish royal sites that has functioned as a monastery, basilica, pantheon, library, museum, university, school and hospital. King Phillip also intended the complex to serve as a necropolis for the interment of the remains of his parents, Charles I and Isabella of Portugal, himself, and his descendants. The building's cornerstone was laid on 23 April 1563, and it would be 21 years before the project was completed. Since then, Escorial has been the burial site for most of the Spanish kings of the last five centuries, Bourbons as well as Habsburgs. The Royal Pantheon contains the tombs of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V (who ruled Spain as King Charles I), Philip II, Philip III, Philip IV, Charles II, Louis I, Charles III, Charles IV, Ferdinand VII, Isabella II, Alfonso XII, and Alfonso XIII. On November 2, 1984, UNESCO declared Escorial a World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist attraction, often visited by day-trippers from Madrid, and more than 500,000 visitors come to El Escorial every year. There's a lot to see at this impressive location, and I would recommend at least three hours for a planned visit here.
Uploaded
April 13th, 2020
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