Are you looking for a weekend getaway? What about visiting a city only 50km away from Madrid, with a monastery declared World Heritage Site and with a wide variety of things to do? If you like how it sounds, you have to visit El Escorial! Interested in visiting? Learn more about our Spanish classes and our fun afternoon activities at: www.ailmadrid.com

1. Weekend Getaway to El Escorial!

2. 1. Why visiting El Escorial?
 It’s impressive monastery was declared a World Heritage Site in
1982.
 Enjoy nature in the heart of the Guadarrama mountain, only 50
kilometres from Madrid!
 It offers a wide variety of natural hikes and cultural tours!
Keep reading to discover the TOP 3 things you can’t
miss in El Escorial!

3. 2. What you can´t miss!
2.1 Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Royal Site of San Lorenzo
de El Escorial)
 Its a monastery of impressive dimensions built by Felipe II by the end of 1562 to
commemorate the battle of San Quintín.
 The King himself kept a close watch of the progress of the project, and invited the
best artists of that time to contribute!
 Its highlights include the Basílica monumental, the Panteón Real (where you can see
the tombs of Spanish monarchs of the houses of Austria and Bourbon), the
Panteón de los Infantes, the Salas capitulares, a library and fascinating patios!
 Prices:
 From 8€ to 10€ or even free. See conditions here:
http://www.patrimonionacional.es/
Opening hours:
 From October to March  Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
 From April to September  Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-20:00

4. 2. What you can´t miss!
 It is also known as “the Lower House”
and was built by Juan de Villanueva.
 Its decoration is of particularly interest,
as it is very representative of 18th-
century palace art, including:
 Outstanding tapestries, paintings on
mythological themes, lamps and clocks.
 Entrance: €5
2.2 La Casita del Príncipe (The Prince’s House)

5. 3. How to get there?
2.3 Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen)
 Only 15 km from El Escorial, this monument was built under dictator
Francisco Franco's direction to honor those who had died in the
Spanish Civil War. He is also now laid to rest there in the basilica.
 The monument precinct covers over 13.6 km2 and includes a basilica, a
Benedictine abbey, a guest house, the Valley, and the Juanelos (four
monoliths from the 16th century).

6. 3. How to get there?
 By public transport:
 By bus: lines 664 and 661 from the Moncloa interchange
 By car:
A-6 Motorway (Madrid-Coruña) to junction 29, M-505 exit
A-6 Motorway (Madrid-Coruña) to junction 47, M-600 exit to San Lorenzo de El
Escorial
 Cercanías train line C-8, Madrid-El Escorial.
AIL Madrid also offers weekend excursions around Madrid and El
Escorial is one of them! For more info visit www.ailmadrid.com