Cities Tourism Guide - Around Madrid

San Lorenzo de El Escorial Palace & El Valle de los Caidos, El Escorial Madrid

One of the most popular daytrips from either Madrid city centre base or surrounding location is to the El Escorial Palace and Royal Seat, bural place of many Spanish Royals, and nearby El Valle de los Caidos, Franco's macabre monument and mausoleum built by Republican prisoners of war between 1940 and 1959, some of whom died building it.

Austere architecture indeed is the Herreran styled El Escorial monastery, yet fascinating nonetheless and later influencial on such Spanish artists as Salvador Dali. Instigated by Philip II, whose character you can get hints of from Escorial's vast symetrical stone structure, the monastery took several years in construction from 1563 to 1574. If you're looking to trace the roots of Castilian baroque then the Herreran styled El Escorial monastery is where to head. The style's influence spread after the palace's construction. As well as the astounding architecture, lovers of the Spanish art masters will not be disappointed by a visit. Numerous masterpieces by El Greco, Hieronymous Bosch, Valazquez and Ribera are held here. Highlights include El Greco's Adoration of the Name of Jesus. Other buildings on-site include the Palacio de los Borbones, worked on by Charles IV and representing a neo-classical style. See also other smaller palaces within the grounds including the Casita d Arriba and Casita del Principe. The El Escorial webguide right give a comprehensive history of the palace, and more on its Herreran styled architecture.

Just to the north a few miles from El Escorial Palace, the location would hardly have been an accident, sits the El Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen), built on the orders of Franco as a monument to the Civil War fallen - at least on the nataionalist side. A better physical representaion of the authoritarian banality and austereness of fascism you're unlikely to find. The huge granite cross atop hewn granite carvings and rock can be seen for miles around (indeed the views are stunning from up here). Underneath the monument runs tunnels and chapels, and here both Franco and Jose Antonio Rivera (Fascist Falange leader) are buried. The Spanish government pays for daily flowers! This was Franco's post war project - built by Republican prisoners of war, some of whom died in the dangerous work of carving great slabs of granite. Republican prisoners of war faced back breaking work and in some cases death in other projects instigated by Franco, for example the construction of roads in Gran Canaria's rugged rural interior on the Canary Islands.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial, C/Juan de Borbon y Battemberg, s/n, 28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial Madrid. Tel. 91 890 59 02 - see El Escorial's weblink right for opening times, and information on other numerous places in and around Madrid, alongside monastries and the El Valle de Los Caidos.

Royal Palaces Spain

Royal Palace of El Pardo, C/Manuel alonso s/n - 28048 El Pardo Madrid. Tel. 91 376 15 00.

Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Plaza de Parejas - 28300 Aranjuez Madrid. Tel. 91 891 13 44. See also the Royal convent of San Pascual on Calle del Rey, 47 - 28300 Aranjuez.

Other royal palaces further afield include the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Illdefonso and Royal Palace of Riofrio at Segovia, The Royal Monastery of Santa Clara Tordesillas at Valladolid and the Monestery of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas at Burgos. For more information on Spain's Royal Palaces see the El Escorial weblink right, which also has information on other Royal Palaces around Spain.

Alcala de Henares Madrid East

Just to the east of Madrid, stunning Alcala de Henares (webguide right) is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, renowned author of 'Don Quixote' amongst other worths.

Alcala de Henares is one of the best of the Madrid suburbs. It's a university town, home to one of the best universities in Spain (the buildings of which are now a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Alcala's historic centre contains a number of churches, convents, historic university buildings and Alcala de Henares has developed rather a good reputation for Spanish fine cuisine. Alacala is particularly famous for its delicious sugared almonds. The town really took off with the introduction of its university in 1498. Original university buildings dating from that period include the Assembly Hall and Plateresque facaade designed by Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon which dates a little later from 1543.

Cervantes is given due attention at the Museo Casa Natal de Cervants, his birth house museum. (see the Cervantes Museum webguide right for opening times and information). Alcala de Henares Tourist Information Office, Plaza de los Santos Ninos, s/n - 2881 Alcala de Henares Madrid. Tel. (00 34) 918810634.

Aranjuez & Chinchon South Madrid

To the south of Madrid Aranjuez has long been a Spanish Royal retreat as its royal palaces testify to. The old quarter of Aranjuez is another Unesco World Heritage site around Madrid. The town sits on a fertile river plain with rivers Tagus and Jarama either side. Like El Escorial, Aranjuez's Royal Palace was worked on by Juan de Herrera as well as Francisco Sabatini.

Aranjuez Tourist Information Office, Plaza de San Antonio, 9 - 28300 Aranjuez Madrid. Tel. (00 34) 918910427.

Pretty historic village Chinchon sits just 45km outside of Madrid, and is famed for its medieval plazas and architecture. There's a painting by Goya here in Chinchon - La Asuncion de la Virgen on display within Chinchon's main church. See Chinchon's tourist information webguide right for details.

Chinchon Tourist Information, Plaza Mayor, 28370 Chinchon Madrid. Tel. (00 34) 918935323.