It could be described as the work that best epitomises the cultural aspirations of Golden Age Spain. The architecture and aesthetic aspects of El Escorial are a synthesis of Spanish and Flemish styles. In fact, his style is known as “herreriano”. Juan Bautista de Toledo had already worked as an assistant to Michael Angelo on St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, and after the death of Juan de Herrera, continued the latter’s work, although Herrera’s influence shows plainly in the completed edifice.
Philip II was closely involved in the project, and supervised the whole process-although he had placed it in good hands.
Monasterio de El Escorial Philip II’s masterpiece In fact, the ground floor bears some resemblance to a grill, a reference to the saint’s martyrdom by burning. They both took great care to comply with the King’s wish regarding the simplicity of the edifice’s lines. This immense building, erected between 15 (although the church was not consecrated until 1595), was the work of Juan de Herrera and Juan Bautista de Toledo. It was named San Lorenzo de El Escorial in commemoration of the victory over the French in the battle of St Quentin in 1557 on 10 August, the day dedicated to the saint. This monastery (which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) was built on the orders of King Philip II in the mid-sixteenth century as a mausoleum for his parents, Charles I and Isabella of Portugal. The distance from Madrid to El Escorial is just over 50 km, but if you are travelling by car, you should allow an hour for the journey. They also require time, so it is worth setting aside a whole day to see them properly, and then to take advantage of the opportunity to go for a stroll or have a meal in the surrounding area, which has some good restaurants. Visits to these kinds of monuments demand a degree of preparation in advance, if we are to understand them and truly appreciate their magnificence. The monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is regarded as one of the eighth wonders of the Old World, and for good reason.
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