Select your language:

30 Nov 2012

El Escorial

Just 60 km north-west Madrid,  once the Spanish Royal Family's home the Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial is now declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, and was considered the eighth wonder of the world.  It is an amazing place that includes a monastery, a palace and a basilica as well. Gifted by nature, El Escorial is a great place to go hiking and do other outdoor sports.



From Madrid to El Escorial: Renfe Cercanias train takes one hour to arrive. Check timetable here. Then, it's approximately a 15 minutes walk to the Palace.

By bus takes 45 minutes, departing from  Moncloa Bus Station.

By car, take a look at Michelin maps and play around with some of the available options: select your preferred route, type of vehicle, check tolls, distances, fuel cost, weather, petrol stations, print directions, sms or email the map, etc. Depending on your selection it can take you one hour to arrive.

My perception of El Escorial? A huge building showing amazing contrasts. One example: the gigantic dimensions of the Palace versus the small room of the King, and specially his tiny bed;  I had to ask twice to convince me that I wasn't wrong and that I really was in front of the King's bed.

Where to eat -  My feeling about this topic is always the same: follow the locals. Look and listen to them and choose the place where they go. I don't trust empty restaurants and I don't like those full of tourists.

Watch my own pictures from Spain by clicking here.

No comments:

Post a Comment