El Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen Monument
San Lorenzo El Escorial | credit: Cruccone
San Lorenzo El Escorial | credit: Carmelo Pec
Valley of the Fallen | credit: Cruccone
Valley of the Fallen | credit: Catedrales e Iglesias
Half Day (Duration: 5 hrs.approx.)
Madrid
Price from: 75.00 euros
- English-Speaking Official Guide to show you all the history of the UNESCO monuments
- Transportation in a fully-equipped vehicle
- Discover 2 places full of Spanish history: El Escorial Monastery and the Valley of the Fallen Monument
General Overview
- Product ID: 2721
Introduction
On this private half-day excursion from Madrid you will visit San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a living monument and a tremendously important tourist attraction. The city is universally renowned and was declared a Historic and Artistic Monument in 1971. Thirteen years later in 1984, UNESCO recognized it as a Monument of World Interest. As Unamuno stated after his first visit to the monastery, "It is a place that all Spaniards, who have a historical conscience of what it means to be Spanish, should visit at some time during their lifetime, as the devout Moslem´s visit the Mecca".
The Escorial is a vast building complex located in the town with the same, San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The building is the most important architectural monument of the Spanish Renaissance. Its construction in 1563 and it wasn’t up until 1584 when they finished the building.
The project was conceived by King Philip II, since he needed a building to serve the multiple purposes of a burial place for his father, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V; a Hieronymite monastery; and a palace.
The first architect, Juan Bautista de Toledo, designed the ground plan on a gridiron scheme, recalling the grill on which San Lorenzo, the patron of the building, was martyred.
The building complex, severe in its lines, has four principal stories with large towers at each corner and its interior of the Escorial was decorated by many notable Spanish and Italian artists of the 16th and 17th centuries, such as Pellegrino Tibaldi and Federico Zuccaro. Other masters who painted works for the Escorial were El Greco, Luca Giordano, and Claudio Coello.
We will also visit the imposing monument built as a memorial for those who died during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). It is located on the Guadarrama Mountains in the province of Madrid, on Cuelgamuros Valley at a height of 1,300 meters. The Monastery with a bold basilica dug out of the granite mountain and a dramatic stone cross 150 meters high.
The Valley of the Fallen (Valle de los Caídos) is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama and about 8 miles away from El Escorial. The complex was built between 1940 and 1958 and is a monument intended to commemorate all those who died on both sides during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). About 40,000 Nationalist and Republican soldiers are buried here. However, the Valley of the Fallen is inevitably associated with Franco's regime since the late General used to be buried inside the basilica and he was the one who ordered its construction. Nevertheless, it is an impressive place and it’s visited by more than half a million people every year.
The main entrance to the basilica is located on the east side in the big esplanade that has a surface of 30,600 m². The basilica was excavated in the rock and extends along a 262-meter (860 feet) long nave with six chapels (three on each side) devoted to the Virgin Mary. Above the crossing, a cupola some 40 meters in diameter is decorated with a mosaic by Santiago Padrós. There are religious services every day in the basilica at 1100-1145 hours.
Day by day itinerary
DAY 1:
MADRID - SAN LORENZO DE ESCORIAL - VALLE DE LOS CAIDOS - MADRID
- Meet your English-Speaking Private Official Guide and Chauffeur in the lobby of your hotel.
- Departure from Madrid.
- Visit the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial,
which is also a memorial for the Kings and Queens of
Spain. We will take an in-depth visit of the Monastery.
- Then we visit the imposing monument built as a memorial for those who died during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). It is located on the Guadarrama Mountains in the province of Madrid, on Cuelgamuros Valley at a height of 1,300 meters. You will visit the monastery with a bold Basilica dug out of the granite mountain and a dramatic stone cross 150 meters high.
- Your chauffeur and guide will drop you off back at your hotel and say the final goodbye.
END OF TOUR SERVICES
Included
- Transportation in a fully-equipped vehicle which changes depending on group size (See Transportation section)
- Private
Chauffeur (NOTE: The chauffeur is not an official guide
and can`t guide within monument this is why an official
guide is included)
- English Speaking Official Guide for the duration of the tour
- Entrance fees included when with the guide:El Escorial, Valle Caidos
- Local Taxes
Excluded
- Beverages not specified in selected meals
- Meals not specified in itinerary
- Optional excursions
- Tip and Gratuities to Chauffeur and local guide (not mandatory but given if you have a good time.)
Pick up
- Hotels or apartments within city limits
- Airport
- Train Station
- Bus Station
- Cruise Ship Port
- Other locations on request at time of booking
Drop off
- Hotels or apartments within city limits
- Airport
- Train Station
- Bus Station
- Cruise Ship Port
- Other locations on request at time of booking
Cancellation policy
- Up to 48 hrs before: Fully Refundable
- Under 48 hrs : 100% Non-Refundable
Lodging
Transport
- Mercedes Benz E Class Sedan Car (1 to 3 People)
- Mercedes Benz V (4 to 7 People)
- Minibus or Bus (8 to 18 People)
NOTE: Or similar type vehicles in the same class as mentioned above.