What to see in Municipality San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Location: municipality San Lorenzo de El Escorial »
Latitude: 40.58909930
Longtitude: -4.14733350

El Escorial monastery (aka "Monastery of St Lawrence") is located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, at the foot of Mt Abantos, 49km northwest of Madrid. It was built by Philip II in honor of his victory over the French in Saint Quentin on 10 August 1557. The project took 21 years and the result is very impressive and majestic - a monumental construction with symmetrical and rectangular shape. It was dedicated to St Lawrence and served as a monastery, palace and pantheon.