Dear friends and readers of this community, I am pleased to tell you today a guided visit that my family made to the famous Escorial, belonging to the community of Madrid, a work rich in architecture, art, design and abundant nature to the delight of those of us who have been lucky enough to visit it. Alfonso and Violeta, my relatives, were there in 2016, while I visited the Monastery in 1987, and as expected, the monumental works in almost the whole world are preserved and even improved for the enjoyment of locals and strangers.
y por el predominio del muro y por la ausencia casi total de decoración)
El Escorial, a name that, some point out, comes from the foundry remains (slags) that existed in the place, as there were numerous smithies there; however, its real name is the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which is currently the seat of the friars of the order of San Agustín, the Monastery was built in the second half of the 16th century by King Felipe II, the architect of this work was Juan Bautista de Toledo, although later other architects intervened, who introduced important changes to the original design.
It is located a few kilometers from Madrid, in the Sierra de Guadarrama, at an altitude of 1055 meters, a favorable place for having quarries, forests and a lot of water. The monastery also fulfills functions as a royal palace and a pantheon, we also find within it a basilica and an extraordinary library.
The guide who led the visit gave interesting information about the building, for example, that it took 21 years to finish the work, begun in 1563, it was finally inaugurated in 1584, although it took a couple of more years to complete the basilica; the work is built in granite, as this material is abundant in the area. Among other curiosities, the guide highlighted that it had 2,676 windows, 1,200 doors, 88 fountains, 16 patios, 86 staircases, 9 towers, 15 cloisters, only with regard to the constructive part, to which the works of art should be added, canvases and furniture that make the Monastery a great museum.
When you get to the Escorial, the dimensions of the main façade are impressive, measuring more than 200 meters and 20 meters high. In the corners four large towers stand out and, in its center, you can see the basilica. This construction, which is not bombastic, has a sober and clean Renaissance style, with scant ornamentation, which is not an obstacle to admiring its grandeur, however, some parts have a baroque air. The gardens that surround the eastern and southern parts, delicately preserved and cared for, are a photographer's delight.
You enter the Escorial through a small door, once inside you can see its magnificent library with a vault finely decorated with wooden shelves, where valuable works are kept. On the other hand, there is the Royal Pantheon enclosure that keeps the remains of monarchs, equally striking is the Hall of Battles and a series of palaces, among other places.
El Escorial was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. I hope you liked the post and the photos taken on this visit; any comments will be well received. All photos are property of Alfonso Celi: Alfonso Celi @alfceli on Instagram , with the exception of a photo taken in 1987, where my eldest daughter, Lidbén, and myself appear.
References:
*Un paseo por la historia del Monasterio de El Escorial: https://miviaje.com/historia-del-monasterio-de-el-escorial/
*Monasterios de España. Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: http://www.jdiezarnal.com/monasteriodelescorial.html
Estimados amigos y lectores de esta comunidad, me complace narrarles hoy una visita guiada que realizó mi familia al famoso Escorial, perteneciente a la comunidad de Madrid, obra rica en arquitectura, arte, diseño y abundante naturaleza para regocijo de quienes hemos tenido la suerte de visitarlo. Alfonso y Violeta, mis familiares, estuvieron allí en 2016, mientras que yo visité el Monasterio en 1985, y como era de esperarse las obras monumentales, en casi todo el mundo, son conservadas e incluso mejoradas para disfrute de propios y extraños.
El Escorial, nombre que, señalan algunos, proviene de los restos de fundición (escorias) que existían en el lugar, pues allí había numerosas herrerías; sin embargo, su verdadero nombre es Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, que en la actualidad es sede de los frailes de la orden de San Agustín; el Monasterio fue construido en la segunda mitad del siglo XVI por el rey Felipe II, el arquitecto de esta obra fue Juan Bautista de Toledo, aunque posteriormente intervinieron otros arquitectos, quienes introdujeron cambios importantes al diseño original.
Se encuentra ubicado a unos pocos kilómetros de Madrid, en la Sierra de Guadarrama, a 1055 metros de altitud, lugar propicio por tener canteras, bosques y mucha agua. El monasterio cumple también funciones como palacio real y panteón, además encontramos dentro de él una basílica y una extraordinaria biblioteca.
El guía que conducía la visita dio información interesante de la edificación, por ejemplo, que fueron necesarios 21 años para dar por terminada la obra, iniciada en 1563, fue finalmente inaugurada en 1584, aunque se necesitaron un par de años más para concluir la basílica; la obra está construida en granito, pues este material abunda en la zona. Entre otras curiosidades destacó el guía que tenía 2676 ventanas, 1200 puertas, 88 fuentes, 16 patios, 86 escaleras, 9 torres, 15 claustros, solo en lo que atañe a la parte constructiva, a lo que habría que agregar las obras de arte, lienzos y mobiliario que hacen del Monasterio un grandioso museo.
Cuando se llega al Escorial impresionan las dimensiones de la fachada principal que cuenta con más de 200 metros y 20 de altura. En las esquinas sobresalen cuatro grandes torres y en su centro se puede observar la basílica. Esta construcción, que no es rimbombante, tiene un sobrio y limpio estilo renacentista, con escaza ornamentación lo que no es óbice para admirar su grandeza, empero, algunas partes tienen un aire barroco. Los jardines que rodean las partes este y sur, delicadamente conservados y cuidados, son la delicia de los fotógrafos.
Se entra al Escorial por una pequeña puerta, una vez en su interior se puede apreciar su magnífica biblioteca con una bóveda finamente decorada con estanterías de madera, donde se guardan obras de mucho valor. Por otra parte, se encuentra el Panteón Real recinto que guarda los restos de monarcas, igualmente llamativa es la Sala de las Batallas y una serie de palacios, entre otros lugares.
El Escorial fue declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en 1984. Espero les haya gustado el post y las fotos tomadas en esta visita, cualquier comentario será bien recibido. Todas las fotos son propiedad de Alfonso Celi: Alfonso Celi @alfceli en Instagram, con excepción de una foto tomada en 1987, donde aparecemos mi hija mayor, Lidbén, y mi persona.
Referencias:
*Un paseo por la historia del Monasterio de El Escorial: https://miviaje.com/historia-del-monasterio-de-el-escorial/
*Monasterios de España. Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: http://www.jdiezarnal.com/monasteriodelescorial.html
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Thanks Pinmapple friends. I wish you a happy weekend
a structural work of art indeed! 😃 the maze garden must be well maintained after all these years, and the inside has more treasures to show its tourists! truly something to visit in person someday, thank you for sharing about your trip here!
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Hello ilovewintergem, indeed, the work is kept in perfect condition and its gardens are extremely well cared to avoid damages due to the number of tourists who visit this Arab legacy to our western civilization.
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1389.
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Hello Pinmapple friends, thank you so much for giving my today post the honorable mention for Daily Travel Digest # 1389. I wish you a very happy weekend.
I've been there!
Hello fjcalduch, congrtulations for having been in such a magnificent place. Receive a cordial greeting and thanks for commenting.
So impressive and beautiful. This one caught my attention, it must have been a painstaking artwork.
Hello friend afterglow, I share your appreciation that it is a meticulous work of art, perhaps of a different mood from those found in other large rooms, due to its strictly religious nature. Thank you for your comment, I wish you a very profitable week.
You're welcome (^_^)
Well done @besamu! We're happy to inform you that this publication was specially curated and awarded RUNNER-UP in Architecture Brew #48. Congratulations!
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