The historical Royal Monastery and Site of El Escorial is located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial near Madrid, Spain

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The historical Royal Monastery and site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres (28 mi) northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and works as a monastery, royal palace and museum. It is also known as El Escorial or The Escurial. Built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Madrid Province. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time.

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Size: 2736px × 3648px
Location: San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid Province, Spain, Europe
Photo credit: © David Vilaplana / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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